Lesson 8 — Harmonic Material and Chord Connections

From Motion to Connection

You already know how to build chords in the vocal quartet (Lesson 6) and move each voice as a melody (Lesson 7). Now we bring both together: connecting two chords, the step before your first chorale.

In the video you will see the harmonic material of the major mode (which degrees we use and in which position), the general table of connections with its required continuations, and how to connect: the common tone, the six pairs of voices without parallels, and the leading tone in the soprano, which rises to the tonic. The minor mode comes in Lesson 9.

Task for the Virtual Teacher

In Storm Sequencer, in SATB mode, write these 8 connections in a single file, in any order: I–IV, IV–V, V–I, II–V, V–VI, VI–II, I–VII6/3 and IV6/3–V.

1. Write each connection in a different major key; you choose which ones.
2. Each connection takes one 4/4 measure, with two half notes in all four voices (16 chords in total).
3. Write the key signature of its key at the start of each measure.
4. Chords without figures are in root position.

Export the MIDI and upload it: the Virtual Teacher recognizes the key of each connection and checks how the chords are built, how each voice moves, parallels and the leading tone. Nothing is checked between one connection and the next.