This site introduces unknown Emanuel Bach (C. P. E. Bach).
I asked ChatGPT4o: "How did Bach construct his harmonies?"
Johann Sebastian Bach employed highly advanced and complex techniques in his harmonic construction. His approach to harmony features the following characteristics:
Bachʼs harmonies are grounded in the clear establishment and reinforcement of tonality. He firmly introduces the tonality at the beginning of a piece and strengthens it through harmonic progressions.
Bach utilized harmonic functions (tonic, dominant, subdominant, etc.) to build his progressions. This created tension and resolution within the harmony, ensuring musical direction and stability.
Bach, a master of counterpoint, skillfully blended contrapuntal techniques with harmonic progressions. In his fugues and canons, each voice moves independently yet collectively forms a harmonious structure.
Bach effectively used tension and resolution in his harmonic progressions. Techniques include:
Bach skillfully employed modulation to transition between keys, adding variety and dynamic shifts to his music.
Bach used passing chords and non-chord tones to connect primary chords, resulting in smoother progressions and richer melodic lines.
Bach used double cadences (double dominant progressions) to emphasize cadential points, providing strong stability and closure at the end of a piece.
Bachʼs harmonic construction can be seen in works like the "St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244".
Johann Sebastian Bach masterfully combined various harmonic techniques, including tonal establishment and reinforcement, functional harmony, integration of counterpoint and harmony, tension and resolution, modulation, passing chords and non-chord tones, and double cadences. These elements contribute to the expressive depth and structural beauty of his music.
I asked ChatGPT4o: "Did Bach use unresolved dissonances?"
Johann Sebastian Bach generally adhered to strict harmonic rules, often resolving dissonances. However, he occasionally used unresolved or sustained dissonances for emotional and dramatic effects.
Bach frequently used suspensions, sometimes allowing them to remain unresolved to sustain tension.
While typically resolved, Bach sometimes left appoggiaturas unresolved to heighten emotional expression.
Bach employed chromatic progressions that sometimes sustained unresolved dissonances for intense tension.
In his chorale preludes, Bach used unresolved dissonances to enhance melodic emphasis and emotional expression.
While adhering to harmonic conventions, Bach intentionally used unresolved dissonances to convey emotion and drama, enriching the expressive depth and tension of his music.