TH101: Model Composition and Tonal Analysis

ASSIGNMENT 2
Due Tuesday, September 9

1. READING/VIEWING [DUE NEXT CLASS]

Laitz, The Complete Musician
Appendix 1D (Triads, Inversions, Figured Bass, and Harmonic Analysis)
This and the following chapter provide the foundation for basic harmonic analysis of tonal music.
It is essential that you read this chapter carefully, all the way to the end (skipping the exercise
interludes).

TH101 Screencast Lecture: Figured Bass, Triads, and Seventh Chords

The first 35 minutes of this screencast lecture summarize much that youll have read in the Laitz
book. Watch it carefully! The URL is available on Blackboard under Assignment 2.

2. COMPREHENSION QUIZ PREPARATION [DUE NEXT CLASS]

COMPREHENSION QUIZ no. 2: TRIADS AND FIGURED BASS (Tuesday 9/9)

To ensure that you have READ and UNDERSTOOD the assigned material from Laitz, you
will be asked some or all of these questions in a brief quiz:
1. TRUE or FALSE: figured bass tells us the inversion of a chord, but not the root.
2. TRUE or FALSE: Roman numerals tell us the inversion of a chord, but not the root.
3. TRUE or FALSE: figured bass indicates both generic and specific interval sizes
above the bass.
4. TRUE or FALSE: in minor keys, we can build one and only one chord above each
scale degree.
5. How many major triads do we find in a major key? What are their Roman numerals?
6. How many minor triads do we find in a major key? What are their Roman numerals?

You will ALSO have to realize a single set of figures above a single bass tone, in closed
position (i.e., tightly packed) on one staff.
So, for instance, if I give you this...

Or, if I give you this...

?b

...then youd write in this:

5
2

...then youd write in this:

7
6
2

?b

5
2

Got it?
7
6
2

Two additional points:

1. The bass figures will be plain integers: no chromatic alterations will be present.
2. The figures I choose WILL NOT produce triads of any sort. In other words, you
will not be given 5/3, 6/3, or 6/4!

TH101 Assignment 2 (p. 2)

3. SKILL BUILDER MASTERY ASSESSMENTS [DUE NEXT WEEK]

KEY SIGNATURES and MAJOR/MINOR SCALES
These two assessments are due on Thursday, 9/11. No further attempts may be made after
that date!
For a full list of assessments and their due dates, see Assignment 1 or visit our class site at
http://www.oup.com/mtsb.

4. UPCOMING WORK [DUE NEXT WEEK]

TASK QUIZ no. 1: MAJOR TRIADS AT THE KEYBOARD (Thursday, 9/11)
The directions for this (challenging!) quiz are on Blackboard under Quiz Preparation.