Retardations in AP Music Theory

Definition

Retardations are upward-resolving suspensions: non-chord tones that delay resolution by holding or rearticulating a note into a new harmony, then resolving upward by step to a chord tone. On the AP Music Theory exam, students need to identify retardations, while ordinary suspensions may need to be identified and notated.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Retardations typically appear on strong beats and resolve to a chord tone on the following beat, contributing to the overall harmonic structure.
2. They are often used in counterpoint to create intricate textures and add depth to melodic lines.
3. Retardations can appear in various musical styles but are especially prevalent in Baroque and Classical compositions.
4. When analyzing music, it's important to identify retardations to understand how composers create tension and resolve it.
5. They can be categorized as either accented or unaccented based on when they occur in relation to the beat.

Review Questions

• How do retardations function within the context of voice leading in tonal music?
  • Retardations play a significant role in voice leading by creating tension through the suspension of notes that delay their resolution. This technique helps maintain interest and provides expressive moments in a piece. When analyzing voice leading, recognizing where retardations occur can reveal how composers structure harmonic progressions and manage dissonance effectively.
• Discuss how retardations differ from suspensions and their respective roles in harmonic progression.
  • While both retardations and suspensions are types of non-chord tones that create tension, they differ primarily in their treatment within harmonic contexts. A suspension typically involves holding over a note from the previous chord, whereas a retardation specifically delays the resolution of a tone within the current chord. Both serve to enrich harmonic progression but do so through different means of creating dissonance and resolution.
• Evaluate the impact of retardations on the overall expressiveness of a musical composition. How do they contribute to the listener's experience?
  • Retardations significantly enhance the expressiveness of a musical composition by introducing moments of tension that lead to satisfying resolutions. This tension-and-release dynamic engages listeners emotionally and creates anticipation for the subsequent harmonic changes. By strategically placing retardations, composers can evoke feelings of longing or excitement, making them a powerful tool for shaping the narrative and emotional arc within a piece.

Related terms

Non-Chord Tone:

A note that is not part of the underlying chord but is used to embellish or add tension to a musical line.

Suspension:

A non-chord tone that is held over from a previous chord, creating dissonance until it resolves to a consonant chord tone.

Resolution:

The process by which a dissonant tone moves to a consonant tone, providing a sense of closure or rest in music.