Golden Sequence: Principle and Features

Write your own composition is extremely difficult. For this you need to be able to achieve a harmonious sound. The Golden Sequence is one of the techniques of composing compositions, which is used in jazz and classical music. Invented this method of obtaining a harmonious sound composer Handel.

Varieties of Sequences

In music, a sequent is often used. It can only be present in part of the work or be repeated in different keys throughout the composition. Those who received music education often met different types of sequentions in classical works. In terms of tonality, this technique can be divided into two types: chromatic and diatonic.

Sequence can consist of several links, coincide with the clock in the number of links (or vice versa), be different in accuracy. A golden sequent in music is often called a quarto-quintean construction. It often lays down the basis of simple motifs, convenient for memorizing, so it is often used in pop music. It is a unique and multifaceted tool that can be used to connect complex constructions.

What is a gold sequent?

The quint circle (another name for this technique) is one of the varieties of a simple sequence, that is, the repetition of a harmonic or melodic turn at different heights. The beginning of the circle is a chord, which is rebuilt by a fifth down from the first note of the scale in its tonality.

The tonics that form this turn follow one another in quarts and fifths. For example, the first chord is taken in the D minor, from its tonic is taken Quinta and a chord in G minor is obtained. From the note salt, which will be a tonic, take a quart up and get a chord in C-major, from which the next one goes a fifth down. So you need to act until the circle closes. We will consider the construction of the circle in more detail below.

Features of using this technique

More often than not, the golden sequencing is built on the principle: quinta down, quarto up. That is why it is called the quinto-quart circle. However, many composers change the arrangement of chords in places: a quarter up, and a fifth down. The result is a different, lower sound, which is also called the Golden Sequence.

Another feature of this technique is the use of the first chord only in the minor scale. The most harmonious sound is obtained if all the chords are related to the diatonic scale. The penultimate chord can be taken not from it, to make it dominant, precluding the closing of the circle. The above example in the D minor will contain such a chord - la-dominantsept. It creates tension before repeating the turnover.

The role of the newt in the golden sequence

So, the golden sequence of the note before the closing of the circle changes a little. This technique is called a newt. With him, in the chord, the third stage rises. This allows you to create tension and highlight this chord as the dominant one.

A semi-reduced newt makes the chord dominant, but not too tense. He is often used in pop music. In classical works, most often there is a reduced chord, which has more tension. Remember that the chords with the newt necessarily require permission in the tonic.

How to build a correct golden sequencer

A golden sequel can be created not only on the piano, it is also used when playing the guitar. We will consider this example of construction, as now a large number of compositions are composed on this six-stringed instrument. Take as a basis any minor chord or seventh chord. From it, four notes are counted down, and then five up.

Let's take the chord in A minor (Am7) as the basis, count the fifth down and get the D minor (Dm7). Then we count up and get G7, and then count from the quinta and get to, but take it in majeur, so the sound will be more beautiful. The fourth chord of our golden sequel will be Cmaj.

Further we will move in a major, to make the segment harmonious. When counting up, we get a note of φα and Fmaj, respectively. Next, move to the fifth down the scale of the original chord in A-minor and get a C-note, on the basis of which we will build the Bm7 / 5 (semi-reduced) chord. The resulted gold sequencing, the chords of which we received, will be incomplete without the use of triton. According to the calculations, the seventh should go Em7, but instead of it (due to the increase of the third stage) we take E7, which is the dominant seventh chord. After it, you can start the circle anew, note that we took all the notes from the gamma in A-minor.

Examples of compositions using this method

Of modern composers, the reception of the golden sequent is most often used by Igor Krutoy, it is thanks to this circle that his melodies become memorable and recognizable by the people. "I did not know" Philip Kirkorov - one of the modern examples of the golden sequent. A lot of beautiful songs are written using these cyclic stretches. The most striking example is the jazz composition - All The Things You Are. Among Russian folk songs this reception can be heard in "Komarinskaya".

Among the classics, the golden sequencing examples are very different, for example, you can hear it in the introduction to the opera "Eugene Onegin" by Tchaikovsky or in his "The Seasons". But most often this method was used by Handel, who, as we have already mentioned, was his inventor. For example, in his "Passacaglia", these melodic segments are distinctly audible. Other composers did not lag behind and used various types of sequent in their works. The most striking example is the works of Wagner and Vivaldi, but not always they used golden sequins.