Escape tone

Definition

An escape tone is a type of non-chord tone that occurs when a note is approached by a step from a chord tone and then resolves by leap to another chord tone. This creates a feeling of tension and release, enriching the musical texture. Escape tones often embellish melodies, adding expressiveness and complexity, as they provide moments of dissonance that enhance the overall harmonic progression.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Escape tones usually occur on weak beats or in between strong beats, allowing for smoother melodic lines.
2. They can add emotional depth to a piece, making melodies more expressive and interesting.
3. Escape tones are often found in the context of scale passages or melodic sequences.
4. The leap following an escape tone can vary in distance, but it typically resolves to a consonant chord tone.
5. When writing music, it's common to use escape tones to connect two important chord tones, enhancing the overall harmony.

Review Questions

• How do escape tones function within a melody, and why are they important for creating musical interest?
  • Escape tones function as embellishments within melodies by providing moments of tension through dissonance before resolving to consonant chord tones. They are important for creating musical interest because they break up predictable patterns, adding variety and expressiveness. By introducing these non-chord tones, composers can create a more engaging listening experience that highlights the emotional content of the music.
• Compare and contrast escape tones with neighbor tones, highlighting their differences in approach and resolution.
  • Escape tones differ from neighbor tones primarily in their approach and resolution. An escape tone is approached by step from a chord tone and resolved by leap to another chord tone, whereas a neighbor tone is approached by step from a chord tone and returns back to the original chord tone. This means that escape tones create more significant tension before resolving, while neighbor tones provide a more subtle decoration of the original melody. Understanding these differences can enhance one's ability to use both types effectively in composition.
• Evaluate the role of escape tones in establishing emotional depth within a musical piece, considering their harmonic implications.
  • Escape tones play a crucial role in establishing emotional depth within music by introducing dissonance that contrasts with the surrounding consonance. This tension created by escape tones draws listeners' attention and enhances the expressiveness of melodies. Their harmonic implications can be analyzed in terms of how they connect different chord tones and contribute to the overall progression of harmony, making them valuable tools for composers seeking to convey complex emotions and maintain listener engagement throughout a piece.

Related terms

Neighbor Tone: A neighbor tone is a non-chord tone that is approached by step from a chord tone and then returns to the original chord tone, creating a brief melodic decoration.

Appoggiatura: An appoggiatura is a type of non-chord tone that is approached by leap and resolved by step to a chord tone, often creating a strong sense of dissonance.

Suspension: A suspension is a non-chord tone that occurs when a note from the previous chord is held over into the next chord, creating tension that resolves downward to a chord tone.