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Modal Harmony—Western and Indian

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2020

Arthur Hutchings*
Affiliation:
University of Durham
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Extract

A few months ago I held that modal harmony—chords and progressions distinct from those of diatonic harmony—consisted only of a few idioms beloved by nationalist composers, who spiced diatonic progression by making scales modal; as in the practice of musica ficta the polyphonists eased modal progression by making the modes scalar. Last September, when Dr. Andrews came to Durham to examine, I somewhat rudely pooh-poohed his appreciation of modal writing in Palestrina, declaring that, though Palestrina observed the authentic or plagal range of a vocal part, it was churchly reverence, melodic and rhythmic restraint rather than any harmonic procedure, that distinguished him from such a composer as Byrd. Strip Byrd of his “changing notes,” his modulations, his bold accents and basses, and what difference is there between Palestrina in the Dorian mode and Byrd in D minor? Dr. Andrews was gentle in his reproof, which amounted to “Look again.” Let any material in this paper that results from my looking again express my apology and thanks.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Musical Association, 1947

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