9.4: Harmonic Function
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- 117438
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9.4 Harmonic Function
- Tonic function (abbreviated “ton.”): The II chord has tonic function, which is a state of stability and rest. Tonic chords do not demand progression to other chords.
- Dominant function (abbreviated “dom.”): The VV and viivii∘ (chords containing the leading tone 7^ and supertonic 2^ ) tend to progress to tonic (II). Special note: The I5thI/5th chord has dominant function when it resolves to the VVchord, as in the third chord from the end of the “Star-Spangled Banner.”
- Pre-dominant function (abbreviated “pre-dom.”): The IVIV and iiii (chords containing the subdominant 4^ and submediant 6^ ) tend to progress to chords of dominant function.
- Tonic prolongation function (abbreviated “ton. prol.”): The vivi and iiiiii (chords that share two common tones with 1^ –3^ –5^ from the tonic triad) tend to occur after the tonic chord and progress to chords of pre-dominant function.
9.4.1 The Harmonic Flowchart
Remember that IVIV goes to II in the plagal cadence and VV goes to vivi in the deceptive cadence. When IVIV goes to II, label IVIV as having tonic prolongationfunction. The plagal cadence and deceptive cadence are exceptions to the harmonic flowchart. Here is the Harmonic Flowchart in minor. Note the addition of the subtonic VIIVIIchord, which has one function—to progress to IIIIII. The tonic chord II can progress directly to a chord of any other function and, in fact, many pieces begin with a II–VV–II progression, representing harmonic function of Tonic-Dominant-Tonic.9.4.2 Tonic-Dominant-Tonic Progression
This is the most elemental progression in music, often realized with II–VV–II. The principle of “Tonic-Dominant-Tonic” could also be represented with II–viivii∘–II. Even though we learned that “dominant” means “5^ ” (and also “VV”) in earlier sections, “dominant function” in terms of harmony means “a chord that progresses to the tonic chord.” We will revisit this concept and other possibilities for “dominant function” later.9.4.3 Tonic-PreDominant-Dominant-Tonic Progression
This sequence of harmonic functions can be realized in four possible ways:- II–iiii–VV–II
- II–IVIV–VV–II
- II–IVIV–viivii∘–II
- II–iiii–viivii∘–II
9.4.4 The Tonic-Tonic Prolongation-PreDominant-Dominant Progression
9.4.4.1 I–vi–IV–V
As mentioned earlier, the progression II–vivi–IVIV–VV was so prevalent in the 1950s that it is known as the “'50s progression” and the “'50s doo-wop progression.” Listen for this bass line in the following examples.- Hoagy Carmichael and Frank Loesser, “Heart and Soul” (in C major)
- Curtis Williams, Jesse Belvin, Gaynel Hodge, “Earth Angel” (in A-flat major) (1954)
- Dolly Parton, “I Will Always Love You” (in A major) (1974)
- Johnny Ramone, Dee Dee Ramone, Joey Ramone, “Rock ‘n’ Roll High School” (in C major)
- John Stephens and Toby Gad, “All of Me” (in A-flat major) (2013)