Whole Tone Progression: A sequence of musical notes where each note is separated by a whole tone, creating an equidistant and symmetrical sound that lacks a tonal center.
Context and Significance
Whole tone progressions are significant in creating ethereal and ambiguous soundscapes. They are commonly used in 20th-century classical compositions, jazz, and film music to evoke a sense of dreaminess or tension. This progression is particularly effective in transitional passages or when composers aim to distance themselves from traditional tonal harmony. Instruments like the piano and guitar often utilize whole tone scales to achieve these unique textural effects.
Historical Background
The concept of whole tone progression gained prominence in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Composers like Claude Debussy and Maurice Ravel were pioneers in employing whole tone scales, breaking away from conventional diatonic scales to explore new harmonic possibilities. This approach was part of the broader Impressionist movement in music, which sought to capture mood and atmosphere rather than adhere to strict harmonic rules.
Examples
Whole tone progressions can be heard in Debussy’s “Voiles” from his “Préludes, Book I,” where the scale creates a floating, unresolved feeling. Similarly, Ravel’s “Daphnis et Chloé” utilizes whole tone scales to add a mystical quality to the orchestration. Jazz musicians, such as Thelonious Monk, have also adapted whole tone scales to enrich improvisation and harmonic exploration.
Related Terms
– Impressionism: A musical movement emphasizing atmosphere and suggestion.
– Diatonic Scale: A seven-note scale consisting of five whole steps and two half steps.
– Chromatic Scale: A twelve-note scale with each note a half step apart.