Pedal Point and Ostinato

Pedal Point and OstinatoWeek 9

The Plan TodayPedal Point:Bass pedalInterior pedalSoprano pedalOstinatoLayered OstinatoH4 Final Project

Pedal PointPedal Point is a sustained pitch that occurs under a chord progression. (Bass pedal)

Pedal point may also be found above the melody (Soprano pedal)

It may also be found in the middle layer (Interior pedal)

Pedal pitchesIn functional contexts, the pedal point is located:

On the tonic pitch (tonic pedal)

On the dominant pitch (dominant pedal)

Occasionally on the subdominant pitch (subdominant pedal)

Sustained/RhythmicA sustained pedal creates a drone like quality

A rhythmic pedal takes the emphasis off the drone without compromising the pedal effect

AnalysisIndicate the abbreviation for tonic pedal (T.P.) or dominant pedal (D.P.) under the particular Roman numeral functionRefer to page 63 of your Harmony 4 text

Bass Pedal

Dominant PedalTonic Pedal

ACTIVITYSpell out the chords in the examples on page 64:Cmaj7 Dm7/C Em7/C Fmaj7/C (tonic pedal)Cmaj7/G Dm7/G Em7/G Fmaj7/G (dominant pedal)Work out what tensions or inversions the pedal creates in the chord if any Or if the diatonic chords with the pedal can be seen as other chords

What did you discover?Dm7/C = IIm7/b7 Fmaj7/C = IVmaj7/5The C under the Em7 creates a 13 which is not an available tension or chord toneThe 13 sounds like a root function, creating a Cmaj7(9) chordDm7/G sounds like G9(sus4)Fmaj7/G sounds like G9(sus4, 13)

Pedal point creates a strong tonal anchorExtreme levels of dissonance above the pedal become acceptableDissonance is easy to control through voice leading

See Evergreen performed by Barbara Streisand

See Evergreen by Barbara Streisand. Initial Pedal, then Pedal at the end of the song11

Combined PedalCombining a tonic and dominant pedal in a rhythmic format creates a simple ostinato:

Interior Pedal

Listening ExampleOwner of a Lonely Heart YesWhere is the interior pedal?Tonic or dominant?

15

Soprano Pedal

Getting Better - Beatles16

LISTENING EXAMPLE:Kylie Minogue Spinning AroundSoprano Pedal on GuitarTonic Pedal on Guitar

Ostinato

Ostinato is a short pattern repeated throughout an entire composition or sectionOstinati can be:MelodicHarmonicRhythmicLike pedal point, ostinato usually occurs in the bass, but can be used in other registers as well.Ostinati often emphasize the tonic of key

ACTIVITYListen to Le Freak by ChickWhich instrument is playing an ostinato?

Lead sheet available

The Mother of All Examples

Layered Ostinato

Layered ostinato is identified as using two or more different patterns in different registers at the same time The idea is to interlock your ostinati so that most, if not all of the basic subdivisions of the beat are represented across the different layersThey create strong vertical sonorities

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