Fundamental Passacaglia: Harmonic Functions and the Modes of the Musical Tetractys

Abstract. In this paper we take the three tonal functions tonic, subdominant, dominant out of their usual theoretical domicile – the combinatorics of fifth-related triads enriched by a dialectical interpretation – and redeploy them within an alternative theoretical framework: the combinatorics of the modes of the musical tetractys, enriched by musicaltheoretical interpretations of selected mathematical facts. Section 1 introduces tonal perspectives of the analysis of the fundamental bass. Section 2 provides a short overview of the combinatorics of the three modes of the musical tetractys. The concluding Section 3 binds the two strands of investigation together.

• Type: Journal
• Year: 2011
• Where: MCM2
• Authors: Karst de Jong, Thomas Noll
• Keywords: Fundamental Bass, Mathematical Facts, MCM2 2011, Tetractys