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Exploring the Neapolitan Sixth Chord

Feb 10, 2025

Lecture Notes: The Neapolitan Sixth Chord

Introduction

  • Presenter: Seth Monahan
  • Topic: Neapolitan Sixth Chord
  • Music Example: Schubert's "Demula under Bach"
    • G minor key
    • First eight bars are gloomy
    • Predominant use of Neapolitan 6th chord

Understanding the Neapolitan Sixth Chord

  • Definition: A flat 2 major triad in first inversion
  • Construction:
    • Root is the lowered scale degree two
    • Always includes scale degree four
  • Terminology:
    • "Sixth" refers to the old term for first inversion (6-3 chord)

Musical Example and Application

  • Basic Progression in C minor:
    • Vanilla progression: 2 diminished 6
    • Neapolitan 6th: Change the chord to flat 2 major 6
  • Sound Characteristics:
    • Darkest sounding major chord
    • Chromatically altered root often in the melody
  • Voicing:
    • Lowered scale degree two on top
    • Often moves to the leading tone over the dominant

Melodic and Harmonic Use

  • Melodic Interval: Diminished third
  • Harmonization:
    • Melodic scale degree one often harmonized
    • Can use cadential 6-4 under tonic in melody

Key Characteristics

  • Use in Major and Minor Keys:
    • Spelled the same way
    • More common in minor keys
  • Harmonization Options:
    • Cadential 6-4
    • Applied 7 of 5

Examples in Classical Music

  1. Bach's B Minor Mass:

    • Use of syncopation and neapolitan chord
    • Melody constrained by neapolitan's "gravitational pull"
  2. Mozart's E Minor Violin Sonata:

    • Post-cadential use of neapolitan
    • Predominant region prolonged
  3. Chopin's F Minor Nocturne:

    • Neapolitan in continuation of sentence
    • Scale degree 4 in melody instead of lowered 2
  4. Beethoven's "Appassionata" Sonata:

    • Forceful use of neapolitan in continuation
  5. Schubert's C Minor Quartet:

    • Dramatic climax with neapolitan
  6. Mozart's Piano Sonata (Early Work):

    • Descending bass line leading to neapolitan in predominant region

Historical Context of the Neapolitan Sixth

  • Origin of the Name:
    • First prominent use by the Neapolitan School
    • Associated with Alessandro Scarlatti
  • Use in Folk Music:
    • Possibly influenced by Sicilian folk music

Conclusion

  • Discussion:

    • Is "Neapolitan" a silly name?
    • Importance and influence of Neapolitan chord in classical music
  • Next Topic: Passing Tonic 6-4