function-phrase-model · peterson-omt-intro-harmony

Harmonic function refers to three categories of chords: Tonic (T) : Chords that sound stable, providing a sense of home or center. In Western classical music, the only chord that belongs to this category is I (in minor: i). Predominant (PD) : Chords that transition away from tonic function toward dominant function. ... Dominant (D) : Chords that provide a sense of urgency to resolve toward the tonic chord: V and vii o (the same in minor). The phrase model refers to the typical order and flow of harmonic functions in a phrase. The principle of the phrase model is that a phrase needs at least tonic function and dominant function harmonies in order to exhibit a sense of trajectory. More often, phrases also include a predominant harmony to heighten the sense of trajectory toward closure. Phrases almost always progress from left to right in the phrase model, not from right to left