Descending tetrachord
Encyclopedia
In music theory
, the descending tetrachord is a series of four notes from a scale, or tetrachord
, arranged in order from highest to lowest, or descending order. For example --- , as created by the Andalusian cadence
. The descending tetrachord may fill a perfect fourth
or a chromatic fourth
.
Music theory
Music theory is the study of how music works. It examines the language and notation of music. It seeks to identify patterns and structures in composers' techniques across or within genres, styles, or historical periods...
, the descending tetrachord is a series of four notes from a scale, or tetrachord
Tetrachord
Traditionally, a tetrachord is a series of three intervals filling in the interval of a perfect fourth, a 4:3 frequency proportion. In modern usage a tetrachord is any four-note segment of a scale or tone row. The term tetrachord derives from ancient Greek music theory...
, arranged in order from highest to lowest, or descending order. For example --- , as created by the Andalusian cadence
Andalusian cadence
The Andalusian cadence is a term adopted from flamenco music for a chord progression comprising four chords descending stepwise. It is otherwise known as the minor descending tetrachord...
. The descending tetrachord may fill a perfect fourth
Perfect fourth
In classical music from Western culture, a fourth is a musical interval encompassing four staff positions , and the perfect fourth is a fourth spanning five semitones. For example, the ascending interval from C to the next F is a perfect fourth, as the note F lies five semitones above C, and there...
or a chromatic fourth
Chromatic fourth
In music, a chromatic fourth, or passus duriusculus, is a melody or melodic fragment spanning a perfect fourth with all or almost all chromatic intervals filled in . The quintessential example is in D minor with the tonic and dominant notes as boundaries, :The chromatic fourth was first used in the...
.
External links
- "Tetrachord", Britannica.com.