Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov · section 93 of 96

On Harmonic Ornament and Ornament of the Pedal

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§ 93. — 1) If, instead of sounding the notes of a chord simultaneously (block chord), we make them follow one another in any order, we obtain the ornament called harmonic, or broken, arpeggiated or figured chord:

[Example] The C major chord C–E–G–C as a block chord, followed by seven broken (arpeggiated) figurations of it in eighth notes, separated by double bars, some o — Fig. 390 · See it in the reader

2) The harmonic ornament can be alternated with the melodic ornament:

[Example] The C major chord as a block chord, followed by four figurations in sixteenth and eighth notes that mix chord tones with passing and neighbour notes ( — Fig. 391 · See it in the reader

3) The harmonic ornament serves rather for building instrumental accompaniment, and it is a subject of study belonging to free composition.

4) It remains to mention the embellished pedal, an ornament used fairly often:

[Example] Embellished pedal in C major, common time: over a bass pedal on C ornamented in triplet eighths with lower neighbours (C–D–C, B–C–B, …; C–A–B in bar 2 — Fig. 392 · See it in the reader