Foundations · 20 lessonsThe Composer's Path · 37 lessons
Lesson 38 of 57 · Harmony as a Living System

The Composer's Path → Module 4 of 9

Harmony as a Living System

Modal harmony, the Lydian universe, the symmetric scales, voice-leading, and inversional thinking, each one taken to the keyboard.

5 lessons · 10 weeks · source course lessons 11, 16, 17

Harmony as a Living System illustration
L17

Modal harmony in rock and metal: function without a leading tone

Biamonte's triadic modal patterns against harmony as a living system.

2 weeks
L18

The Lydian universe: Russell, Clement, and whether the fourth degree can be home

George Russell, Clement on Lydian tonicization, Zappa, Vai, and modal color.

2 weeks
L19

Symmetric scales: Messiaen's modes, Holdsworth's system, and what a collection with no leading tone is for

Holdsworth's system and Messiaen's modes, and what is lineage versus convergence.

2 weeks
L20

Voice-leading: Schenker, Bill Evans, and harmony without a structural dominant

Schenker to Bill Evans to Radiohead's chromatic mediants and mode mixture.

2 weeks
L21

Negative harmony: what Levy wrote, what Collier does, and what actually transfers

Levy's polarity, Lewin's inversion operations, and what actually transfers.

2 weeks