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Introduction

Basics

Introduction to Cadences

Simple Prolongation

First Analysis

Decorations

More Prolongations

More Neighbours Combinations Conclusion

Analysis

Sequences I

Cadence Variations

- Click on this icon to hear the musical examples!

Conclusion

We will conclude this chapter with a short excerpt from George Gershwin's song "Oh, Lady Be Good".

   George Gershwin, Oh, Lady Be Good

Here is a reduction of this passage.

The first and third bar contain a tonic triad. The second bar contains the notes of a dominant ninth built on C (C, E, G, B-flat and D). If we think only of the chord's spelling we will want to label it as a dominant 9^th built on C, but this interpretation is confusing, for the chord does not resolve at all the way a dominant of F should. If we focus instead on the horizontal motions we see that the passage is a prolongation of the tonic using neighbouring motions. Some of the motions are rather unusual - such as the use of B-flat as a neighbour between two B-naturals - but everything here can be explained as simple neighbours.

Interpretation of what appear to be complex chords, is often quite simple, as long as you focus on what the chord does rather than dwelling on what it must be called.