Understanding Tonal Harmony and Modulation in Music
In today's lecture on music theory, Dr. Adams is exploring the concept of tonal harmony. He begins by explaining the foundation of scales, emphasizing the importance of major and minor scales. After this, he transitions into discussing how these scales influence chord progressions.
He notes that major scales create a sense of brightness and stability, suggesting that composers often favor them in upbeat or joyful pieces. Conversely, he highlights that minor scales evoke feelings of sadness or tension and are prevalent in more somber musical works.
Dr. Adams illustrates his points by playing examples on the piano, showing how different compositions utilize these scales to elicit specific emotional responses. He concludes this section by introducing the concept of modulation—the process of changing from one key to another within a piece—which adds complexity and interest to musical compositions. Dr. Adams stresses the significance of understanding tonal harmony not only for performing musicians but also for composers who seek to convey emotions through their music.
Note: This question has been adapted from its original format to accommodate a reading-based version. In the official TOEFL exam, speaking and listening sections require verbal responses and audio prompts, which are not represented here. Please note that this adaptation may not fully reflect the nature or difficulty of the official exam. The audio feature for these sections will be available soon.