Music Composition DUMmIES

Retardation............................................................................................

The opposite of suspension is to stay on your tone and then step up to

the next tone. This is known as a retardation, and an example is shown in

Figure 8-11.

Anticipation...........................................................................................

If you arrive at the next tone before the chord changes, it is called an anticipa-

tion. You’ll see two of these in Figure 8-12: one across the second measure

line, and one across the third.

Pedal point ............................................................................................

If you stay on or repeat the same note, despite (or because of) the disso-

nance with the next chord, and keep playing it till the harmony of your chord

progression allows it to resolve, it is called a pedal point.

The pedal point technique is usually used in the bass. If used for an upper

part, such as a soprano, it is called an inverted pedal, and in the middle

voices (tenor or alto) it is called aninternal pedal. The name comes from the

&b 4

(^4) œ
œœœ œœ
FBb
œ.
J
œœ œ
œ
C Dm
œœ ̇
Bb C
œœ Ó
Dm
̇ ̇
Bb C
̇ œŒ
F
Figure 8-12:
Anticipation,
unsurpris-
ingly,
anticipates
the next
chord.
&b 4
(^4) œ
œœœ œ
FBb
œ.
J
œœ œ
C Dm
œ œ ̇
Bb C
œ œ Ó
Dm
̇ ̇
Bb C
̇ œŒ
F
Figure 8-11:
Retardation
is introduced
to our
example.
Chapter 8: Developing Your Melodies 85