[Smt-talk] The Concept of Appoggiatura

[Karen Sunabacka]

I teach from the Horton/Ritchey "Harmony Through Melody" music theory text. In this textbook the appoggiatura is always an accented dissonance. The textbook describes the appoggiature as "an unprepared accented dissonance: though it resolves by step, it is approached by a leap." (p357) When the accented dissonance is approached by step the textbook calls it a "Rhythmic Displacement".
I like this approach. Also, the textbook teaches suspensions and rhythmic displacements much earlier than the appoggiatura, and so the students learn to be very careful with the accented dissonance (always prepare or approach by step). So that when they are allowed to create an accented dissonance from a leap they can really hear the difference. It is a nice progression that I feel reflects the development of melody and harmony historically.

When I was a TA in grad school I taught from the Koska/Payne - I much prefer the Horton/Ritchey. 


Dr. Karen Sunabacka
Assistant Professor of Music Theory and Composition
Music Program Coordinator
Providence University College
College Website http://www.providencecollege.ca/
Personal Website: www.sunabacka.com


On 2012-10-22, at 7:01 PM, Matthew Heap wrote:

> Just my two cents:  when I learned theory (with the Walter Piston Harmony), we definitely segregated appoggiatura out from the unaccented non-harmonic tones.  In fact, if I remember correctly, we called an unaccented figure that Kostka and Payne would describe as an appoggiatura a "reaching tone."  I must say that when I first started to teach from the Kostka/Payne, I rebelled against the idea of the all-encompassing appoggiatura because, as Dimitar points out, there is a big difference between an accented and unaccented non-harmonic tone.  I feel like they were (are) trying to make theory a little more...user-friendly for undergraduates (which is a fine goal as far as it goes).  Now I try to walk the tightrope of sticking to the textbook, so as not to cause undue consternation, while emphasizing that there is a crucial difference between the way an accented appoggiatura acts versus an unaccented "appoggiatura."  
> 
> Best,
> Matthew Heap
> 
> --------------------------------------------
> Dr. Matthew Heap
> Professorial Lecturer in Music
> American University 
> 
> On Mon, Oct 22, 2012 at 6:55 PM, Daniel Roca <drocacan at gmail.com> wrote:
> I can only speak from the usual concepts employed around here (Spain, I don't know if other South European countries). And I must say I don't recognize what Kotska and Payne describe as appogiatura as such.
> 
> As it is described here normally, an appogiatura required indeed an accent (it's its main characteristic) and does not require a leap at all. I had never seen this description. An "unaccented" appogiatura could only be imaginable relativately, i. e. a relatively weak appogiatura resolving to an ever weaker note.
> Another common definition of "appogiatura" is an "articulated suspension", although I don't like this definition very much.
> 
> But, again, this is just the usage around here. My 2 c. worth.
> 
> El 22/10/2012, a las 22:49, Ninov, Dimitar N escribió:
> 
>> Dear Colleagues,
>> 
>> There are a lot of things and situations in conventional books that are highly objectionable and not solidly supported. One example of what I think of as a false concept, is the manner the appoggiatura is presented in the Kostka/Payne book and other books (not in all American books, though). This concept is neither historically nor practically supported; it seems to have been “invented” by someone who could not find peace until all the non-chord tones have been placed in one basket and indiscriminately labeled by melodic contour only - thus mixing weak and strong. 
>> 
>> The difference between unaccented and accented non-chord tones is essential. While the former occur after the chord and create a subtle nuance in the harmonic motion, the latter enter with the chord, create a harmonic conflict, and require special treatment. This is why an indiscriminate classification of all non-chord tones by melodic contour alone creates a misleading picture that mixes up strong and weak dissonances and ignores the fundamental difference in their aural effect. It does not make sense to simply label as a “passing tone” a note that creates a clang with a chord and resolves like a suspension, or to call an “appoggiatura” a metrically weak tone that enters after the chord.
>> 
>> Many theorists, among whom Hugo Riemann and Richard Stör, refer to the appoggiatura as “suspension” (Vorhalt ) or “free suspension” (frei Vorhalt) to suggest that it has a similar effect. (Riemann, Dictionary of Music, revised ed. 1897, trans. by J. S. Shedlock. Philadelphia: Theo. Presser, 1899, 29; and Stör, Praktischer Leitfaden der Harmonielehre. Wien: Universal-Edition, 1917, 61.
>> 
>> Therefore, the appoggiatura, or the leaning tone, is not about a melodic contour but about a moment of entrance and a necessity for resolution. In this sense it may appear as an accented passing, accented neighboring or accented leaping dissonance. 
>> 
>> In some theory books, the appoggiatura is explained as a non-chord tone that is approached by a leap and left by a step. This notion is not supported historically, and it is all the more surprising because it assumes the existence of weak appoggiaturas. In fact, the appoggiatura emerged in the 16th century counterpoint as an accented passing tone (Robert Jones, Harmony and Its Contrapuntal Treatment. New York: Harper, 1939, 60), and the so-called “long appoggiatura” in the keyboard practice of the Baroque Era was approached both stepwise and by a leap. We know that the verb “appoggiare” means “to lean” and therefore it implies a tone which leans on the chord on a metrically accented position. Consequently, there are no “weak appoggiaturas”, unless they are included in a syncopation figure, where they will still be accented. 
>> 
>> I would highly appreciate any comments on that issue.
>> 
>> With best regards,
>> 
>> Dr. Dimitar Ninov, Lecturer
>> School of Music
>> Texas State University
>> 601 University Drive
>> San Marcos, Texas 78666
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> _________
> Mark Twain: Haz siempre lo correcto. Esto gratificará a algunos, dejará atónitos al resto.
> 
> Daniel Roca
> Músico
> drocacan at gmail.com
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> -- 
> --------------------------------------------
> Dr. Matthew Heap
> Professorial Lecturer in Music
> American University 
> Katzen 214
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