Song

use modal patterns

for contrast or to add a distinctive tonal color to a phrase or section.

harmonies primarily diatonic, chromatic, modal, twelve-tone, or combinations of these

sustain tension, control forward movement, or supply release

shifting harmonies without reaching a stable key center, to sustain mood and interest

Harmony combined with melody and rhythm can produce momentum in a song, create tension, sustain intensity, or provide release.

illustrate text through harmonic color or by harmonic movement; harmonic sequences can heighten the drama of the text and dissonances can highlight words or groups of words.

creating a mood, reinforcing the drama, or illustrating the poetic elements.

tied to the expressive qualities of the poetry,

most of Richard Strauss’s songs were written for his wife, soprano Pauline de Anha. Duparc’s mélodies were composed for what he called a “violin-voice”; and the range of Brahms’s Lieder makes them a treasure-trove for rich-textured medium and low voices.