3.1 The development of functional harmony

Functional harmony in Baroque music revolutionized composition by assigning specific roles to chords within a key. This system established a clear tonal center and provided a framework for creating tension and resolution in musical works.

Primary chords like the tonic, dominant, and subdominant formed the backbone of Baroque harmonic progressions. These progressions, along with the interplay between melody and harmony, became fundamental to the era's musical expression and structure.

Functional Harmony in Baroque Music

Functional harmony in Baroque music

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• Functional harmony assigns specific roles and relationships to chords within a key, establishing a hierarchical system
• Classifies chords based on their function in establishing, reinforcing, or destabilizing the tonal center (tonic, dominant, subdominant)
• Became a fundamental organizing principle in Baroque compositions, providing clear tonality and structure
• Composers employed functional harmony to create tension, resolution, and emotional expression in their works (Bach, Vivaldi, Handel)

Primary chords and tonality

• Tonic chord (I) built on the first scale degree, establishes and reinforces the tonal center, provides stability and resolution (C major: C-E-G)
• Dominant chord (V) built on the fifth scale degree, creates tension and instability, requires resolution to the tonic, often used in cadences (C major: G-B-D)
• Subdominant chord (IV) built on the fourth scale degree, complements the dominant chord, provides contrast to the tonic, helps establish the key (C major: F-A-C)

Harmonic progressions in Baroque compositions

• Common harmonic progressions establish key, provide direction, and create harmonic interest
  1. I-IV-V-I: Basic progression establishing key, provides sense of departure and return (C-F-G-C)
  2. I-V-vi-IV-I: "Pachelbel progression" creates memorable and satisfying harmonic sequence (C-G-Am-F-C)
  3. I-ii-V-I: Variant of I-IV-V-I using supertonic (ii) chord for added color and variety (C-Dm-G-C)
• Composers utilized progressions to reinforce tonal center and generate harmonic variety (Corelli, Purcell)

Melody vs harmony in Baroque

• Melody and harmony closely intertwined in Baroque compositions
  • Melodies often outline notes of underlying chords, creating a symbiotic relationship
  • Harmonic progressions support and enhance expressive qualities of the melody (aria, concerto)
• Basso continuo: Common Baroque accompaniment style featuring bass line and improvised chords, provides harmonic foundation and supports melody
• Counterpoint: Art of combining multiple independent melodic lines, each contributing to overall harmonic structure, creating rich and complex harmonic texture (fugue, canon)