: First Phrase

The prelude begins with a phrase of eight measures. The harmonic analysis of measures 1 to 3 is as follows:

The first chord in the third bar is a diminished seventh chord which resolves using the common tone Ab to the Ab major chord. We use the symbol C^o7 to represent this chord (C of common tone). The three chords in this bar are played over a tonic pedal.

The first phrase ends with a semicadence. Below is an analysis of measures 4 to 8:

The first phrase ends on the second beat of the eighth bar, and the second phrase begins on the third beat. The dominant chord in bar 8 contains a ninth, eleventh and thirteenth.

© 2019 José Rodríguez Alvira. Published by teoria.com