Orchestral Effects in Several Symphonic Works
Topic #1: Orchestral Effects
Pedal point
A pedal point is a tone that is sustained throughout several changes of harmony. Depending on the changing harmony, the pedal point may be consonant with it, creating the impression of stability, or be dissonant with it, creating the impression of tension. Therefore, a pedal point is a device that composers use to sustain an impression of stability or tension, or to effect a sudden change of mood through the shift from consonance to dissonance or vice versa without introducing a distinctive new melody.
The use of pedal points is visible in the 1st movement of Mozart 's Symphony no.41. Please refer to the Immerseel 2001 recording for time frame references. In this movement, pedal points are evident at 1:07~1:18 and at 8:34~8:44. Here, the violins play the melody which deviates from the key of C major in which the movement is written. In order to sustain stability and as a reminder of the movement 's home key, Mozart wrote a long sustained tone in the dominant 5th for flute, oboe, horns and trumpets to pull the harmony back to its root into consonance.
Several pedal points are used throughout Beethoven 's 5th Symphony, but the most significant of them is its use at the end of the 3rd movement. Please refer to the Gardiner recording. From 6:45, there is a great sensation of stillness, with almost no activity. This is when the timpani sounds out the pedal point on C, the violins on C, the violas on E, cellos on Ab, and bass on Ab. Then the violins switch to E, the violas to C, and the cellos and bass to G. All of these notes are tonic, dominant, or subdominant notes of the C major scale, in which the final movement is written. Thus when the brass instruments strike out the theme of the final movement in continuum of the pedal point tones, the sensation of triumph and completeness is immensely amplified.
Syncopation
A syncopation is "a disturbance or interruption of the regular flow of rhythm": a
Pedal point
A pedal point is a tone that is sustained throughout several changes of harmony. Depending on the changing harmony, the pedal point may be consonant with it, creating the impression of stability, or be dissonant with it, creating the impression of tension. Therefore, a pedal point is a device that composers use to sustain an impression of stability or tension, or to effect a sudden change of mood through the shift from consonance to dissonance or vice versa without introducing a distinctive new melody.
The use of pedal points is visible in the 1st movement of Mozart 's Symphony no.41. Please refer to the Immerseel 2001 recording for time frame references. In this movement, pedal points are evident at 1:07~1:18 and at 8:34~8:44. Here, the violins play the melody which deviates from the key of C major in which the movement is written. In order to sustain stability and as a reminder of the movement 's home key, Mozart wrote a long sustained tone in the dominant 5th for flute, oboe, horns and trumpets to pull the harmony back to its root into consonance.
Several pedal points are used throughout Beethoven 's 5th Symphony, but the most significant of them is its use at the end of the 3rd movement. Please refer to the Gardiner recording. From 6:45, there is a great sensation of stillness, with almost no activity. This is when the timpani sounds out the pedal point on C, the violins on C, the violas on E, cellos on Ab, and bass on Ab. Then the violins switch to E, the violas to C, and the cellos and bass to G. All of these notes are tonic, dominant, or subdominant notes of the C major scale, in which the final movement is written. Thus when the brass instruments strike out the theme of the final movement in continuum of the pedal point tones, the sensation of triumph and completeness is immensely amplified.
Syncopation
A syncopation is "a disturbance or interruption of the regular flow of rhythm": a
Cited: Frank, Robert J. (2000). "Non-Chord Tones", Theory on the Web, Southern Methodist University. Hoffman, Miles (1997). "Syncopation". National Symphony Orchestra. NPR. http://www.kennedy-center.org/nso/classicalmusiccompanion/syncopation.html. Retrieved 13 July 2009. Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 2012. Web. 21 Dec. 2012 <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/448440/pedal-point>. Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 2012. Web. 21 Dec. 2012 <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/578383/syncopation>. Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 2012. Web. 21 Dec. 2012 <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/578021/symphony/27487/Berlioz -and-Liszt>. [ 2 ]. Frank, Robert J. (2000). "Non-Chord Tones", Theory on the Web, Southern Methodist University. [ 3 ]. Hoffman, Miles (1997). "Syncopation". National Symphony Orchestra.