Ornamental resolution

Definition

Ornamental resolution refers to a decorative approach used in music composition that resolves a dissonance into consonance, often embellishing the transition between chords. This technique adds stylistic flair to musical phrases, enhancing the expressiveness of the piece. It serves to enrich melodic lines while maintaining harmonic integrity, making it a vital aspect of tonal music.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Ornamental resolution often involves the use of non-chord tones like passing tones, neighbor tones, or appoggiaturas to create tension before resolving.
2. This technique enhances the expressiveness of a piece by adding layers of complexity to melodic lines and harmonic progressions.
3. In tonal music, ornamental resolutions can often be found in cadences, where they contribute to the overall emotional impact of the ending phrase.
4. Composers like Bach and Mozart frequently employed ornamental resolutions to add sophistication and elegance to their compositions.
5. The effectiveness of ornamental resolution lies in its ability to create contrast between dissonance and consonance, enhancing the listener's experience.

Review Questions

• How does ornamental resolution enhance the overall expressiveness of a musical piece?
  • Ornamental resolution enhances expressiveness by introducing decorative elements that create tension through dissonance before resolving into consonance. This tension adds emotional depth to the music, allowing listeners to engage more fully with the melodic lines. The embellishments serve not only to make transitions more interesting but also to heighten the impact of key moments within a composition.
• Compare and contrast ornamental resolution with other forms of dissonance treatment such as suspension and retardation.
  • Ornamental resolution differs from suspension and retardation in its decorative intent and application. While suspension involves holding a note over to create tension, ornamental resolution focuses on embellishing transitions with various non-chord tones. Retardation similarly delays resolution but is typically less ornamental. All three techniques contribute to the tension and release dynamic in music, but ornamental resolution places greater emphasis on stylistic decoration.
• Evaluate the role of ornamental resolution in shaping the listener's emotional response during cadences in tonal music.
  • Ornamental resolution plays a crucial role in shaping emotional responses during cadences by providing a sense of anticipation and release. When composers incorporate ornamental resolutions into cadential passages, they create moments of tension that engage listeners' emotions, making the subsequent resolution more satisfying. This interplay between dissonance and consonance not only reinforces harmonic structure but also elevates the overall aesthetic experience of the music, leaving a lasting impact on the audience.

Related terms

Suspension: A suspension is a specific type of dissonance that occurs when a note from a previous chord is held over into the next chord, creating tension before it resolves.

Retardation: Retardation is a type of ornamental resolution where a note is delayed in its resolution, creating a moment of tension before it resolves to the expected consonance.

Appoggiatura: An appoggiatura is an accented non-chord tone that typically resolves by step to a chord tone, providing a momentary dissonance followed by immediate consonance.