Grade 8 Music Theory - Decoration in Trio Sonatas
Patterns of Decoration
There are some typical patterns which are used to add decoration between two notes. The ideas in this chapter are just a small selection, to get you thinking about how you can move from one main melody note to the next in a “fancy” way. For more inspiration, study as many Trio Sonatas as you can and see what sort of patterns were used in each case.
In the following examples, the main melody notes are on the top stave, and possible ways to decorate them are immediately below. Play or sing through them.
Decorating a Unison or Long Note
Decorating a Rising 2nd
Decorating a Falling 2nd
Decorating 3rds
Decorating 4ths and 5ths
Melodic Decoration and Harmony
When you decorate any note, pay attention to the harmony which is required at that point. The first note in the decorative part, (in other words, the note after the main melody note), will usually need to either be a chord note belonging to the current harmony, or a step away from the main melody note.
If you choose a note which is neither a step away, nor a chord note, you will most likely write a decoration which clashes with the rest of the harmony.
The following decorations all work properly:
In the above examples in the key of C major, the main melody moves from G down to D in each case.
- Bar 1: Harmony moves from I to V. Main melody note G is followed by chord note E.
- Bar 2: Harmony is V throughout the bar. G is followed by chord note D.
- Bar 3: Harmony moves from I to V. G falls by a step.
- Bar 4: Harmony is V throughout. G falls by a step.
