Resolution

Definition

Resolution refers to the process in music where dissonance is resolved into consonance, creating a sense of closure or satisfaction. It plays a crucial role in establishing harmonic progression, facilitating smooth voice leading, and enhancing the emotional impact of a composition.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Resolution often occurs when a chord containing dissonant intervals, such as seventh chords, resolves to a consonant chord, typically the tonic.
2. In four-part writing, it's essential to maintain smooth voice leading by ensuring that individual voices resolve properly to create a cohesive sound.
3. Secondary dominants can create moments of tension through dissonance that resolve into the expected chord, adding depth to harmonic progressions.
4. The use of non-chord tones can create tension that resolves into chord tones, enriching melodic and harmonic textures in compositions.
5. Modulation techniques often employ resolution to smoothly transition between keys, reinforcing the new tonal center while still providing a sense of closure.

Review Questions

• How does resolution enhance the emotional impact of harmonic progressions in music?
  • Resolution enhances the emotional impact of harmonic progressions by transforming dissonance into consonance, which evokes feelings of tension followed by release. This process allows listeners to experience a journey through musical tension and resolution, making them more engaged with the emotional narrative. When chords resolve effectively, it creates a satisfying conclusion to phrases or sections within the music, ultimately contributing to its expressive power.
• Discuss the role of resolution in voice leading and its importance in maintaining coherence in four-part writing.
  • Resolution plays a critical role in voice leading by guiding each individual voice from dissonant intervals to consonant ones. In four-part writing, proper resolution ensures that each voice moves smoothly and logically, avoiding awkward leaps that can disrupt the harmonic flow. This coherence is essential for achieving balance and unity in the overall sound of the composition, allowing listeners to easily follow the harmonic progression without confusion.
• Evaluate how modulation techniques utilize resolution to facilitate smooth transitions between different keys within a composition.
  • Modulation techniques use resolution to create seamless transitions between keys by establishing a temporary tension in one key that resolves as it shifts into another. By incorporating dominant chords or altered harmonies that lead into the new tonal center, composers can guide listeners through changes in tonality while maintaining a sense of continuity. This strategic use of resolution not only highlights the contrast between keys but also reinforces thematic material throughout the piece, ultimately enhancing the overall structure and emotional depth.

Related terms

Dissonance: A combination of notes that creates tension and instability, often requiring resolution to consonance.

Consonance: A harmonious combination of tones that provides a sense of rest and resolution, contrasting with dissonance.

Cadence: A sequence of chords that brings a phrase to a close, often utilizing resolution to establish a point of rest.