Suspension

Definition

A suspension is an embellishing tone that occurs when a note from a previous chord is held over into the next chord, creating a temporary dissonance that resolves downwards to a consonant tone. This technique adds tension and interest to music by delaying resolution, enhancing the harmonic progression and voice leading. Suspensions are often used in various musical styles to create emotional impact and movement.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Suspensions are usually labeled with numbers indicating the interval above the bass note, such as 4-3 or 7-6 suspensions.
2. Common resolutions for suspensions involve moving the suspended note down by step to create consonance with the new chord.
3. They can occur in different parts of the texture, including the melody or inner voices, but often resolve in the highest voice.
4. Suspensions often appear at strong beats, creating a heightened sense of drama as they resolve on weaker beats.
5. They play a significant role in establishing tension and release within harmonic progressions, often enhancing emotional expression in music.

Review Questions

• How does a suspension function within a harmonic progression, and what effect does it have on the listener's perception of tension?
  • A suspension introduces dissonance by holding over a note from the previous chord into the next, which creates tension as it clashes with the new chord. This dissonance captures the listener's attention and heightens their emotional engagement with the music. When the suspended note resolves downwards to a consonant tone, it provides a satisfying release, enhancing the overall impact of the harmonic progression.
• Compare and contrast suspensions and passing tones in terms of their roles as embellishing tones in music.
  • Both suspensions and passing tones serve as embellishing tones that enhance melodic lines, but they function differently. Suspensions create dissonance by holding over a note from the previous chord and resolving downward, adding tension before resolution. In contrast, passing tones connect two consonant notes by moving stepwise between them without creating significant tension. While suspensions draw attention to moments of harmonic change, passing tones smoothly connect melodies.
• Evaluate the impact of using suspensions in different musical genres and styles; how do they contribute to emotional expression?
  • Suspensions play a crucial role across various musical genres by adding emotional depth and complexity to compositions. In classical music, for example, suspensions enhance harmonic richness and highlight key moments of tension and resolution. In jazz and contemporary styles, they can create intricate textures and unexpected turns, contributing to expressive improvisation. The ability of suspensions to evoke feelings of anticipation and release allows composers and performers to convey nuanced emotional narratives within their music.

Related terms

Dissonance:

A combination of tones that creates a sense of tension or instability, typically needing resolution to a consonant harmony.

Resolution:

The process of moving from a dissonant tone or chord to a consonant one, providing a sense of closure and satisfaction in music.

Passing Tone: An embellishing tone that connects two consonant tones by filling in the gap, typically moving stepwise between them.