MUSIC THEORY

Mod 24

• Subject of the Day: Notating Chords
• Reading Assignment: Textbook, pp.73-77
• Written Assignment: Workbook, ex.5-2
• Semester Schedule

Stems in 4 part writing upon a Grand Staff do not follow the third line rule for determining their direction.  Rather, the soprano and alto voices are both written in the treble (upper) staff.  All soprano notes, regardless of where they occur on the staff have their stems going upward.  Upon the same staff all alto notes will have downward stems.  Likewise in the bass (lower) staff, both tenor and bass parts appear.  All tenor notes have their stems proceeding upward, while the bass notes have stems going down.

Spacing of the four voices follow certain conventions:
    1.    It is considered open position when there is an octave or more distance between the soprano note and the tenor.
    2.    If the interval between the soprano and tenor is less than an octave, the spacing is termed close.
    3.    Generally voices should not cross over one another; soprano should not be on a lower note than alto, alto should not
           appear beneath tenor, and tenor should not go below bass.
    4.    Alto should not be more than an octave below soprano; tenor should not be more than an octave below alto; the
           interval between tenor and bass is not restricted.
 

If you still have questions, contact Dr. Bartolotta at wbartolo@odu.edu