CMP Composition and Music Theory 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is a 'secondary dominant' chord?
- A dominant seventh chord built on a scale degree other than 5 that temporarily tonicizes another chord (Correct answer)
- The second most important chord in a key
- A dominant chord borrowed from the parallel minor
- A dominant chord that resolves down by a half step
Correct answer: A dominant seventh chord built on a scale degree other than 5 that temporarily tonicizes another chord
A secondary dominant (V/X) is a dominant-function chord applied to a chord other than the tonic, creating a brief sense of a new key center.
Question 2: In a 12-bar blues progression in the key of C, which chord typically appears in bar 5?
- F7 (IV7) (Correct answer)
- C7 (I7)
- G7 (V7)
- Am7
Correct answer: F7 (IV7)
The standard 12-bar blues moves to the IV chord (F7 in C) in bar 5 after four bars on the I chord.
Question 3: What is the difference between a 'motive' and a 'theme' in composition?
- A motive is a short rhythmic or melodic cell; a theme is a longer, more complete musical idea built from motives (Correct answer)
- A motive is in the bass; a theme is in the treble
- A motive is always 4 bars; a theme is always 8 bars
- A motive uses only stepwise motion; a theme uses leaps
Correct answer: A motive is a short rhythmic or melodic cell; a theme is a longer, more complete musical idea built from motives
A motive is the smallest identifiable unit of musical meaning, while a theme is a fuller melodic statement that may incorporate one or more motives.
Question 4: What is 'contrary motion' in voice leading?
- Two voices moving in opposite directions simultaneously (Correct answer)
- Two voices moving in the same direction at the same interval
- Two voices that alternate in pitch without overlapping
- Two voices crossing each other in pitch
Correct answer: Two voices moving in opposite directions simultaneously
Contrary motion occurs when one voice ascends while another descends, and it is generally considered the strongest and most independent type of voice motion.
Question 5: What is the 'tritone substitution' rule used in jazz harmony?
- Replacing a dominant seventh chord with another dominant seventh chord whose root is a tritone away (Correct answer)
- Adding a tritone interval to any chord for tension
- Substituting any chord with its tritone transposition
- Using the tritone as the melody note over any chord
Correct answer: Replacing a dominant seventh chord with another dominant seventh chord whose root is a tritone away
Tritone substitution replaces a V7 chord with a dominant chord whose root is a tritone away, since both chords share the same tritone interval between their 3rd and 7th.
Question 6: What is 'species counterpoint' in music theory pedagogy?
- A systematic method of teaching counterpoint through five progressive levels of rhythmic complexity (Correct answer)
- A counterpoint technique specific to certain musical species or genres
- A method of writing counterpoint in five different keys simultaneously
- A system of analyzing counterpoint found in species of medieval chant
Correct answer: A systematic method of teaching counterpoint through five progressive levels of rhythmic complexity
Species counterpoint, codified by Johann Joseph Fux, teaches voice leading through five species: note-against-note, 2:1, 4:1, syncopated, and florid counterpoint.
Question 7: In music, what is a 'suspension' and how is it typically resolved?
- A non-chord tone held over from the previous chord that resolves downward by step (Correct answer)
- A chord that delays the root from appearing until beat 2
- A technique of suspending the tempo before a cadence
- A held note in the bass while upper voices move freely
Correct answer: A non-chord tone held over from the previous chord that resolves downward by step
A suspension occurs when a consonant note is held into the next chord where it becomes dissonant, then resolves downward by step to a chord tone.
CMP Composition and Music Theory 3
What is a 'secondary dominant' chord?