Things to study (and know!) for the midterm exam on Friday (3/9):
- Figured bass. Know the standard stuff, what the accidentals mean, slashes, etc., relating figured bass symbols to Roman numeral harmony, etc. The figured bass part writing will NOT include secondary dominant/leading-tone chords. Alterations will be restricted to raising the leading tone in minor.
- Suspensions. Know the four types (4-3, 7-6, 9-8, and 2-3), and how to add them to an existing four-voice example. Look for stepwise motion that descends to one of the resolution intervals. Also know that any seventh chord that resolves down by fifth (V7 – I, ii7 – V) will offer the opportunity to add a 4-3 suspension over the resolution chord. Tonic moving to first inversion Dominant (I – V6 or V65) is an ideal time for a bass 2-3 suspension (also ii42 – V6).
- Harmonic Sequences. Review the exercises on pp. 165-6 in the workbook. Be able to identify and complete a sequence given two-three chords to start.
- Secondary Chords. Be able to analyze a passage with secondary dominant/leading-tone chords. You will NOT have to do a reduction, but you will have to distinguish between essential and embellishing chords. At this point, any chord that is tonicized is essential. Secondary dominants and leading-tone chords are embellishing, unless V7/V substitutes for a predominant chord. If V7/V is present without a predominant chord immediately before it, then it is essential. Otherwise (ii leads to V7/V, to V), it is embellishing.
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