Question 1: Define the term 'harmony' in music and explain its role in a composition.

Answer: Harmony in music refers to the combination of different musical notes played or sung simultaneously to produce a pleasing sound. Its role is to support the melody, add depth, and create emotional effects.

Question 2: Listen carefully to a piece of music where the main melody is accompanied by a chord progression. Describe the overall mood created by the harmony.

Answer: The harmony creates a mood of [e.g., happiness, tension, sadness] by using [e.g., major chords for happiness, minor chords for sadness, dissonant chords for tension].

Question 3: Identify whether the following chord progression is based on a major or minor key: C – F – G – C.

Answer: This progression is based on a major key, most likely C major.

Question 4: Explain what a dissonant harmony is and give an example of how it might be used effectively in a composition.

Answer: Dissonant harmony involves notes that sound tense or unstable when played together. It can be used to create suspense or tension before resolving to consonant chords.

Question 5: Sketch a simple harmonic progression using four chords that would typically evoke a feeling of resolution and stability.

Answer: A common progression such as C major - F major - G major - C major, illustrating a I–IV–V–I pattern in C major, would be expected.

Question 6: Describe the difference between consonant and dissonant harmony.

Answer: Consonant harmony sounds stable and pleasant, with notes that blend well, while dissonant harmony sounds tense or harsh, creating a sense of conflict or unrest.

Question 7: Listen to a passage where a composer uses a minor key to create a melancholic mood. What is one characteristic of the harmony that contributes to this mood?

Answer: The use of minor chords or a minor key signature, which often includes a lowered third scale degree, contributes to a melancholic or sad mood.

Question 8: Draw a diagram illustrating a basic chord structure for a major triad. Label the root, third, and fifth notes.

Answer: A correct sketch would show a vertical stack of three notes: the bottom note (root), the middle note (a third above the root), and the top note (a fifth above the root).

Question 9: Explain how harmony can change the emotional impact of a piece of music.

Answer: Harmony can influence the emotional impact by creating feelings of tension, resolution, excitement, or sadness through the choice of chords, progressions, and dissonance or consonance.

Question 10: Identify the type of harmony used in a piece that features a series of chords moving stepwise from C to D to E.

Answer: This is a stepwise or scalar movement within a harmony, possibly part of a melodic line or a simple chord progression in a related key.

Question 11: Describe what a 'cadence' is in harmony and give an example of a common cadence used at the end of a phrase.

Answer: A cadence is a sequence of chords that concludes a phrase, providing a sense of closure. An example is the perfect authentic cadence, which typically involves a V chord resolving to the I chord.