................................................................................................................................................

Melancholy

Musical

Example

Melancholy

Secret

Score

Melancholy

Animated

Score

Using Open Harmonies (cont.)

Now, if we look at the short harmony that occurs on beat 4 of every bar, (with the exception of bar 2), the notes of the harmony are either a 4th or a 5th apart:

This demonstrates that all the harmonies of longer duration (three beats) are either a 6th or 7th apart, and those of shorter duration (one beat) are either a 4th or 5th apart. Let's listen to what this sounds like in bars 3 through 7:

By using virtually no harmonies with 3rds, and only using harmonies with 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th intervals, we create a less warm harmony, and a slight strain in the sound. This "open" harmony sound (harmonies of 4th, 5th, 6th or 7th intervals) also creates a less secure sounding harmony. This helps to create the melancholy mood we are after.