Theory Courses

Theory and Composition Maestro Kamran Khacheh

Course I (Beginners and Intermediates)

1. Materials of Music

• Basic properties of sound
• Classification of intervals and scales
• Inversions of intervals and scales

2. Triads

• Chord components
• Triad types based on individual scale degrees
• Inversions
• Consonant and dissonant intervals
• Duplets and quadruplets
• Chord disposition: closed and open
• Movement of individual voices

3 . Connections of Primary Triads

• Tonic, subdominant, and dominant degree chords (I, IV, V)
• Voice leading rules

4. First Inversion

• Notation with numbers
• Nature of first inversion

5. Dominant Seventh Chord

• Origin of harmonic dissonance
• Natural resolution
• The three inversions

6. Ninth and Thirteenth Chords

• Seventh chord
• Inversions

7. Notes Unrelated to Harmony (la fioritura melodica)

• Ornamentation and passing tones
• Retardation
• Anticipation
• Appoggiatura

All topics will be supported by examples and practical exercises

Course II (Advanced Students)

1. Tonality and Mode

• Tonal functions of scale degrees
• Modal scales
• Tonal strength of chords
• Sixth, seventh and third degrees
• Realization of bass at the fundamental stage of first and second inversion

2. Cadences

• Authentic, perfect and imperfect cadences
• Half, plagal and deceptive cadences
• Phrygiancadence

3. "Artificial" Secondary Seventh

• Function of the dissonant chords which are different from dominant seventh chords
• Seventh chords types

4. Special Sequences

• Possible special resolutions (tonal and modal)
• Secondary dominants

5. Modulation

• Psychological need of tonality changes
• Modulations from close and distant keys

6. Progression

• Initial mode
• Tone progression
• Function of secondary dominants
• Modulating progression

7. Chromatic (altered) chords

• Raised IV° degree and lowered V° and VI° degree
• Augmented sixth and Neapolitan sixth chords

8. Analysis

• Harmonic analysis
• Formal analysis

Course III (Advanced Students)

For the very advanced student; work in polyphony, counterpoint and analysis (20th century works: Bartok, Webern, Spanish composers from De Falla onward).

Texts

Course I

La nuova scuola di teoria e lettura musicale, Carlo Delfrati e Rita Ferri(ed. Curci, Milano)
Il Libro delle letture, Carlo Delfrati e Rita Ferri (ed. Curci, Milano)
Armonia tradizionale (vol. 1), Paul Hindemith(ed. Curci, Milano)
Cento Solfeggi Cantanti, Luigi Cornago (Carisch, Milano)

Course II

Lezioni di armonia, R. Dionisi e M. Toffoletti (ed. Curci, Milano)
Quaderno di esercitazioni, R. Dionisi e M. Toffoletti (ed. Curci, Milano)
Appunti di analisi formale, R. Dionisi e M. Toffoletti (ed. Curci, Milano)
Harmony, Walter Piston (Norton, New York)