Close and open harmony

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For other uses, see Close harmony (disambiguation).
"Barbershop harmony" redirects here. For other uses, see Barbershop arranging.
{ \override Score.TimeSignature #'stencil = ##f \override Score.SpacingSpanner.strict-note-spacing = ##t \set Score.proportionalNotationDuration = #(ly:make-moment 1/4) \time 4/4 \relative c' { <c e g>1 <c g' e' g> } }
C major triad in close and open harmony

A chord is in close harmony (also called close position or close structure[1]) if its notes are arranged within a narrow range, usually with no more than an octave between the top and bottom notes. In contrast, a chord is in open harmony (also called open position or open structure[1]) if there is more than an octave between the top and bottom notes. The more general term spacing describes how far apart the notes in a chord are voiced. A triad in close harmony has compact spacing, while one in open harmony has wider spacing.

Close harmony or voicing can refer to both instrumental and vocal arrangements. It can follow the standard

Bach chorales, or proceed in parallel motion with the melody in thirds or sixths
.

Vocal music

See also: Vocal harmony
{ #(set-global-staff-size 15) \new PianoStaff << \new Staff << \relative c' { \clef treble \key c \major \time 4/4 c8 c d e c e d4 c8 c d e c4 b c8 c d e f e d c b g a b c4 c } >> \new Staff << \set Score.tempoHideNote = ##t \tempo 4 = 120 \clef bass \key c \major \time 4/4 \new Voice \relative c { <c e g>2 <c e g>4 <b d g>4 <c e g>2 <c e g>4 <d g> <c e g>2 <c f a> <d f g> <c e g>4 <c e g> } >> >> }
Beginning of "Yankee Doodle"[2] with accompaniment in close harmony
{ << \new Staff << \set Staff.midiInstrument = #"voice oohs" \relative c'' { \clef treble \key c \major \time 4/4 g2. g4 e2 e g2. g4 e2 c } \addlyrics { Tie -- fe Stil -- le herrscht im Was -- ser } >> \new PianoStaff << \set PianoStaff.connectArpeggios = ##t \new Staff << \clef treble \key c \major \time 4/4 \new Voice \relative c' { <c e>1\pp\arpeggio <c e>\arpeggio <d f>\arpeggio <c e>\arpeggio } >> \new Staff << \clef bass \key c \major \time 4/4 \new Voice \relative c, { <c c' g'>1\arpeggio <c c' g'>\arpeggio <b b' g'>\arpeggio <c c' g'>\arpeggio } >> >> >> }
Beginning of Schubert's "Meeresstille", D. 216, is an example of accompaniment in open harmony, spaced according to the overtone series[3]

Origins of this style of singing are found in harmonies of the 1800s in America.[citation needed]

Early radio quartets continued this tradition. Female harmonists, like The Boswell Sisters ("Mood Indigo", 1933) and The Hamilton Sisters and Fordyce ("Who? You That's Who!", 1927), who then became Three X Sisters, performed and recorded this style in the 1920s, and continued it on commercial radio of the 1930s. Close harmony singing was especially popular in the 1940s with pop and R&B groups using the technique quite frequently. The Andrews Sisters also capitalized on a similar style with swing music.

Many gospel and soul groups in the 1950s and 60s also used this technique, usually 3- or 4-part SSAA or TTBB harmony with one person (either bass or lead) doing a call-and-response type lead. Examples of this are The Blind Boys of Alabama,[citation needed] a group that is still recording today. The folk-rock duo Simon & Garfunkel used close harmony, echoing their chosen role-models, The Everly Brothers.[4] The Louvin Brothers were a duo that used close harmony in the genre of country music.[5]

Barbershop harmony has a unique harmonic structure: the melody is in the 2nd tenor or "lead" voice, while the 1st tenor takes the next part up, usually in 3rds, with the baritone and bass voices supporting. The bass line tends to be more rhythmic and covers the root notes of the harmonic progression, providing more "support" and independence than in classical vocal music, since Barbershop is usually sung a cappella. Barbershop can be sung by people of any gender.[citation needed] Public domain pieces, such as "Sweet Adeline", and newer pieces are abundant. National organizations promote the music with local chapters in many communities.

Soul and gospel groups flourished in America in the years after World War II, building on the foundation of blues, 1930s gospel songs and big band music. Originally called "

African American church. These groups sometimes sang a cappella but also used instrumental backing, especially when recorded by the bigger labels. Pop music and doo-wop can be seen as a commercialization of this genre.[citation needed
]

Instrumental music

Impressionist composers like Claude Debussy and Maurice Ravel often used close harmony in their works and other intervals, such as 7ths, 9ths, and 11ths may be used since the chords have four or more notes and the harmonies are more complex.[citation needed] In jazz, this influence flowered in the works of George Gershwin and Duke Ellington.[6]

A well-known example of consistent instrumental close harmony is

Schillinger technique with Joseph Schillinger,[7] who is credited with helping Miller create the "Miller sound", and under whose tutelage he himself composed what became his signature theme, "Moonlight Serenade".[8]

Block harmony

In

doubles the melody an octave lower, while in open harmony the middle note of the chord is played an octave lower creating an "open" space in the chord.[9]

See also

References

  1. ^
    OCLC 51613969
    .
  2. ISBN 0-935016-80-5
    .
  3. ISBN 0-582-28227-6
    .
  4. ^ Simon, Paul (20 April 2011). "100 Greatest Artists: 33. The Everly Brothers". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 19 January 2014.
  5. ^ Friskics-Warren, Bill (26 January 2011). "Charlie Louvin, Country Singer, Dies at 83". The New York Times. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
  6. ISBN 0-306-80614-2
  7. ^ "Joseph Schillinger, the forgotten Guru Archived May 4, 2006, at the Wayback Machine", The Schillinger School of Music.
  8. ^ "Who Is Joseph Schillinger?", The Schillinger System.
  9. ISBN 0-943748-00-3
    .
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