Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov · section 82 of 96

The Artificial Dominant Seventh Chord and the Artificial Diminished Seventh Chord

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§ 78. — 1) The artificial dominant seventh chord is formed by raising the third (as a chromatic passing note) in the seventh chord of the 2nd degree of the major key; it resolves to the chord of the 1st or of the 5th degree.

2) The artificial diminished seventh chord arises from combining the preceding alteration with an alteration of the root of the same chord; it resolves to the 1st degree only.

3) Both are used preferably as chords of the fifth-and-sixth and of the third-and-fourth in cadences:

ARTIFICIAL DOMINANT SEVENTH CHORDS. Example in C major: the seventh chord of the 2nd degree (II) as a 6/5 chord, F–A–C–D, whose bass F rises to F♯ (D–F♯–A–C), r — Fig. 337 · See it in the reader

ARTIFICIAL DIMINISHED SEVENTH CHORDS. Example in C major: the seventh chord of the 2nd degree (II) as a 6/5 chord, F–A–C–D, in which both F and D rise a semiton — Fig. 338 · See it in the reader

4) Both of them, prepared by the triads of the Ist or VIth degree as well as by that of the IVth, can be used as independent chords.

Example in C major, four parts. First: I (C major triad) – II, the artificial diminished seventh D#–F#–A–C as a six-five chord (6/5, bass F#) – the cadential si — Fig. 339 · See it in the reader

REMARK.— When the artificial diminished seventh chord is prepared by the triad of the IVth degree, one of the parts moves down by a diminished third:

Diminished third (3ce dim.): F falls to D#, which rises to E. — Fig. 340 · See it in the reader

5) In minor, the artificial dominant seventh chord requires, in addition to the raising of the third, the raising of the fifth as well:

Example in C minor: over the whole-note D, the II chord F–Ab–C (6/5) becomes F#–A natural–C (third and fifth both raised), followed in parentheses by the six-fo — Fig. 341 · See it in the reader

the use of the second inversion of this chord is rare.

6) The artificial diminished seventh chord cannot be formed on the IInd degree of the minor mode.