Tag: music

Stravinsky “Rite of Spring” Chord: Analysis/Harmony and Application

Posted on by Modern Music Theory and Application

Please watch video above for detailed info:

Hi Guys,

Today, a look at the amazing orchestral chord from “The Rite of Spring” [“Augurs of Spring ” – Les augures printaniers] by composer Igor Stravinsky.

PART 1:

What is the “Augurs of Spring” chord?

This is a Bi-Tonal chord consisting of two parts or two different tonalities. In the Bass we have a chord of F flat Major and in the treble we have a chord of Eb7

Musical notation displaying the F flat Major and Eb7 chords, highlighting Stravinsky's "Rite of Spring" chord [augurs of spring chord]
Musical notation illustrating the bi-tonal chord of F flat Major and Eb7 from Stravinsky’s ‘The Rite of Spring.’

Stravinsky calls this F flat Major as opposed to its enharmonic [E Major] because, he employs an Eb Major key signature making it easier to read and follow, whilst removing any # accidentals that could create messiness. [The extra flats make it legible].

stravinsky_rite_of_spring_chord_augurs_of_spring

BUT……

In our modern analysis we can think of it this way,

"Les Augures printaniers" sheet music displaying F flat Major and Eb7 Stravinsky chords with annotations.

Here, is how the rite of spring chord sounds in an orchestral context:

From Stravinsky’s score: Here, we can see Stravinsky’s mastery, displayed by his execution of rhythmic brilliance.

stravinsky_rite_of_spring_chord_augurs_of_spring

Below, is how it sounds as a pad on an modern keyboard

PART 2: GUITAR VOICING’S

Due, to the nature of the guitar we really need an extra finger and an extra string to do this unique chord justice.

But, here are two guitar voicing’s for harmony, strumming and chordal picking:

Voicing #1

Musical notation diagram illustrating a bi-tonal "Rite of Spring" chord with tablature for guitar, depicting an F flat Major and Eb7 chord by Stravinsky.
Guitar voicing example for the Bi-Tonal chord from Stravinsky’s ‘Rite of Spring.’

Voicing #2

stravinsky_rite_of_spring_chord_guitar-lesson-voicing

PART 3:

Investigating the harmony:

In the example below, we can see the amazing way Stravinsky’s “Rite of Spring” chord resolves and how the structure of the harmony moves.

stravinsky_rite_of_spring_chord_augurs_of_spring_analysis
stravinsky_rite_of_spring_chord_augurs_of_spring_harmony
stravinsky_rite_of_spring_chord_augurs_of_spring

CHORD PAIRS:

Due to the nature of the two chords being a semitone apart we can create some interesting chord pairs lines/licks from this:

stravinsky_rite_of_spring_chord_augurs_of_spring_bi_tonality

Okay, now let’s develop this a bit,

stravinsky_rite_of_spring_chord_augurs_of_spring_bi_tonal_lesson

PART 4:

We, can also build on this concept and create some interesting guitar or solo instrument lines with this approach:

Here is a lick/line example:

A music score highlighting E Major and Eb Major sections improvised Stravinsky "Rite of Spring" chord
Musical notation highlighting the transition between E Major and Eb Major chords in Stravinsky’s ‘Rite of Spring.’
Musical score displaying E Lydian and Eb Major sections, with annotated rhythmic divisions for Stravinsky's "Rite of Spring" chord
Musical notation illustrating the E Lydian and Eb Major scales, highlighting the rhythmic structure and chord pairs from Stravinsky’s ‘Rite of Spring’.

In Conclusion:

This was just a quick look at the potential of just one chord!

This Bi-tonal and Polytonal approach opens up so much in terms of inspirational ideas, originality and fresh harmonic perspectives.

In this way, cliches can be rung of banality and forged into something interesting and unique and thoroughly challenging.

“Les Augures Printaniers/The Rite of Spring” is such a great example of this, possessing a little world within itself. Add, to this Stravinsky’s brilliant exploitation of rhythm and we have a [Bi-tonal]chord that’s an all time classic!

FREE PDF DOWNLOAD:

stravinsky_riteofspring_chordDownload

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Alternate Picking from Ascending 5’s

Posted on by Modern Music Theory and Application

PLEASE WATCH VIDEO ABOVE FOR DETAILED INFO:

Hi Guys,

Today, a quick look at building from the “Ascending group of 5” with alternate picking guitar technique.

This group of 5 exploits the “Up” stroke. It works well as a tool for building longer and longer lines/phrases.

This is NOT shred and is really only for jazz, fusion and world-esque music like John McLaughlin’s super creative outlet Shakti. It is an improvisers tool.

ASCENDING 5:

Here is an example of the 5 figure. It consists of an open string and starts on an upstroke.

This 4 note + 1 sets up the upstroke for the string cross.

alternate_picking_guitar_technique_example

Here’s how it would be as a tetrachord to the next beat. [As opposed to a quintuplet or Ta ka di mi Thom.

alternate_picking_guitar_technique_example

EXAMPLE/EXERCISE 1:

Let’s now build off of the ascending 5 figure.

In the example below, we can clearly see the extension from the 5’s to 7’s to two groups of 4 note tetrachords.

alternate_picking_guitar_technique_example

From here, we will add a Dom7th chord to the scale/phrase.

alternate_picking_guitar_technique_example

This sets us up nicely to descend smoothly starting on the upstroke.

alternate_picking_guitar_technique_example

EXAMPLE/EXERCISE 2:

Here, we will do exactly the same thing, except that this time we are moving from G7 to C Major. [Notice the open string and 5 figure extended].

alternate_picking_guitar_technique_example

Once again, the descent is on the upstroke.

alternate_picking_guitar_technique_example

FULL EXAMPLE:

alternate_picking_guitar_technique_example

EXAMPLE/EXERCISE 3:

Here, we see the process in action again. The line building from the 5 figure.

alternate_picking_guitar_technique_example

The descent starts on the upstroke as before, but, this time leads to a perfect V I cadence:

alternate_picking_guitar_technique_example

VARIATION:

Here is a variation, but, this time in the key of A Major.

alternate_picking_guitar_technique_example

The same form of descent is employed that once again ends in a V I cadence.

alternate_picking_guitar_technique_example

FREE PDF DOWNLOAD:

5-GuitarDownload

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LINKS to ALL of my past Blogs/PDF Downloads/Lessons

Posted on by Modern Music Theory and Application

Hi Guys,

Below, is the list of all of my past “Blogs/Lessons” that many of you have enquired about:

As you can see, in the list/links below I have delivered hundreds of free lessons/blogs and pdf downloads over the years!

This is a great thing!

But,

I cannot organise them all, as there are just too many.

So, putting them in a long list is the only way to catalogue and contain them all at this moment in time.

You can also find them all in the website menu:

BLOG SEARCH BOX

HERE ARE ALL BLOG/LESSONS/PDF

Many [not all] have free PDF Downloads

I hope that some of the lessons and downloads were of use to you!

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