Musical Practice and Performance Stack Exchange
Musical Practice and Performance Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [satb]

For questions related to SATB (soprano, alto, tenor, bass) chorale-style composition. If the question is specifically about four-part voice leading, please also use the voice-leading tag.

41 questions
12
votes
8 answers

Doubling the third of a root position major chord in four-part harmony

In a manual for four-part harmony that I am reading, it is suggested to avoid doubling the 3rd of a root position major chord, as it sounds harsh. On a minor root position chord however, it is acceptable. Why is it better to double the 3rd of minor…
Stefanos
  • 121
  • 1
  • 4
8
votes
6 answers

How can I prevent a 4-part harmony from sounding muddy?

This is my 4-part harmony version of the first two phrases of the traditional song "Angels we have Heard on High". When I play it back, it sounds very thick and muddy, which is not what I hear with the same sound font in the Bach chorales I studied…
OprenStein
  • 1,378
  • 1
  • 18
8
votes
2 answers

Seemingly unsolvable SATB harmonization

Was working on the following exercise in RCM Harmony 9 - it seems like there's no solution if you follow all the SATB rules. It's in F# minor, so looking at the second note, we see that it's tonic (RR35) and it needs a F# and an A. The lower A in…
user87910
  • 83
  • 3
7
votes
3 answers

Reason for 4-voice music octave rule

As far as I know, a basic rule of 4-voice music is: -The two intervals between the upper 3 voices should not be wider than an octave, and when moving on to the next chord, each voice should proceed as close as possible and the parts with the same…
guss2222
  • 109
  • 8
6
votes
5 answers

How to make the Bass in SATB move more smoothly?

While writing for SATB, I realise I have a few chords where the Bass part is moving down in intervals of 6ths or 7ths from one chord to the next. For example, I have a chord progression iib in F major (Gm/Bb) going to V7 (C7). Thus, the chord…
Grace
  • 1,755
  • 2
  • 9
  • 29
6
votes
3 answers

How should I write a SATB piece in Musescore with respect to its voice soundfont?

I'm currently writing a vocal piece for a high school SATB chorus in Musescore. Throughout the composition process, I've been using the Musescore playback, which presents all voice syllables in a Choir Ooh soundfont. This is my first time writing…
Plentelle
  • 103
  • 5
6
votes
3 answers

SATB chord iib (AKA ii6) doubling

In SATB, the chord iib in D-flat major, the chord is realised as: G-flat, E-flat, B-flat, (G-flat is doubled). Why isn't the E-flat doubled, it being the root of the chord?
Lucienne Cauchi
  • 61
  • 1
6
votes
2 answers

Voice leading: is it allowed to move from a perfect fifth to an augmented fourth?

I understand that it is allowed to move from a perfect fifth to a perfect fourth, even if it is not the most preferable solution. However, would it be valid to move from a perfect fifth to an augmented fourth? For example, the case of the image I…
Quaerendo
  • 760
  • 3
  • 11
5
votes
3 answers

Maximum interval between Alto & Tenor, & intervals when writing for SATB

What is the maximum interval permitted between the Alto & Tenor when writing for SATB? I have read it should not be more than a 10th, whereas another source said it should not be more than an 8th. Which one is correct? Also, when you write for SATB,…
Grace
  • 1,755
  • 2
  • 9
  • 29
5
votes
1 answer

What do these measures mean at the beginning of this choral piece?

The piece is "Es ist ein Ros entsprungen," and it was composed in the 1600s by Michael Praetorius. This score is edited.
magicmq
  • 153
  • 2
4
votes
4 answers

Is there a rule in SATB writing regarding the Soprano & Bass moving in contrary motion?

While writing a melody over a bass line, it is generally advised to have the melody & the bass line moving in contrary motion to each other. I want to know if such a rule also exists when you write for SATB. Do the Soprano & Bass have to move…
Grace
  • 1,755
  • 2
  • 9
  • 29
4
votes
1 answer

Tenor part written higher than the Alto part in SATB

I have read that Bach in his chorales wrote the tenor part high (frequently using ledger lines for this). Another source said that the Tenor part would be written higher than the Alto part - for example, in this chord Gm, the Tenor has the G written…
Grace
  • 1,755
  • 2
  • 9
  • 29
4
votes
2 answers

Do metrically weak chordal skips cause parallel 5ths and octaves?

I am trying to decorate a descending fifths sequence by using chordal skips and passing tones. As you see the skip to the 3rd of the C chord creates parallel octaves in the outer voices when moving to the F chord. Is this bad voice leading? Or…
armani
  • 9,033
  • 3
  • 23
  • 60
4
votes
2 answers

What is the difference between a cadential V6-5 and iii6?

Please have a look at my harmonization. I am having difficulty labelling the V chords in this harmonization. I have labelled them as V chords with a 6-5 suspension. Would this labelling be correct since they resolve to I chords? When would these V…
armani
  • 9,033
  • 3
  • 23
  • 60
3
votes
2 answers

A question regarding SATB (4 part) harmonization

I'm working through examples in my Harmony 9 book from the RCM Celebration series and I stumbled across a SATB harmony question that I am unsure of. the red is what is given, you have to choose the chords to use and complete the SATB voicing. So…
user53401
1
2 3