Tonicization

Definition

Tonicization is the process of temporarily emphasizing a chord as if it were the tonic of the key. This is achieved by treating a non-tonic chord like the home chord, which creates a brief sense of resolution and stability. It often involves a secondary dominant or a modal interchange that allows composers to create a richer harmonic language and can lead to smoother transitions between sections.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Tonicization can occur over various durations, from just a few beats to an entire phrase, impacting how the listener perceives the harmonic structure.
2. Composers often use tonicization to enhance emotional expression, creating moments of heightened tension before returning to the original key.
3. The process can introduce chromaticism into a piece, as secondary dominants often require accidentals that are not in the original key signature.
4. In some cases, tonicization leads directly to modulation, where the piece fully shifts to a new key after establishing a temporary tonic.
5. Tonicization is frequently found in classical music but is also prevalent in jazz and popular music, showcasing its versatility across genres.

Review Questions

• How does tonicization function in relation to secondary dominants, and why is this connection important for understanding harmonic progressions?
  • Tonicization relies heavily on secondary dominants, which serve as temporary dominant chords leading to non-tonic chords. When a composer uses a secondary dominant, it creates an expectation of resolution to the target chord, effectively treating it as if it were the tonic. This connection is crucial for grasping how harmonic progressions can be enriched and diversified, allowing for more engaging musical narratives.
• Discuss how modal interchange can contribute to the tonicization of a chord and provide an example of its application in tonal composition.
  • Modal interchange allows composers to borrow chords from parallel modes, facilitating tonicization by introducing new harmonic colors. For instance, using a flat VII chord from the Mixolydian mode can create tension before resolving to I in a major key. This application highlights how modal interchange broadens harmonic possibilities and enhances the effectiveness of tonicization in creating emotional depth.
• Evaluate the role of tonicization in modern musical genres compared to classical compositions, focusing on its impact on audience perception and emotional response.
  • Tonicization plays a pivotal role in both modern genres and classical music but impacts audience perception differently. In classical compositions, tonicization often builds tension and leads to satisfying resolutions that align with traditional expectations. In contrast, modern genres like jazz may use tonicization more freely and unpredictably, creating unexpected emotional responses that challenge listeners' harmonic assumptions. This contrast illustrates how tonicization adapts across styles while maintaining its fundamental purpose of enhancing musical expression.

Related terms

Secondary Dominant: A chord that functions as the dominant (V) of a chord other than the tonic, creating a temporary tonicization of that chord.

Modal Interchange: The technique of borrowing chords from parallel modes, allowing for the tonicization of chords outside the original key.

Harmonic Function: The role that a chord plays within a progression, determining its stability and relationship to the tonic.