Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky · section 34 of 36

Chapter XXXII. The free Prelude

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§ 137. A valuable exercise is the writing of free chord-progressions, dominated by no particular voice and going through all sorts of modulations. Such exercises, which need not take any of the distinct forms recognized in musical composition, should be characterized chiefly by skilful harmonization *). They may either end in the original key, or constitute a passing modulation; at the close the organ-point can be employed.

Example 349 — Fig. 364 · Play this example in the reader ▶

*) The different forms in which musical thought is presented, will become known to the student Jater on,

Note. For the sake of clearness it would be advisable to employ a separate staff for each voice and to write the voices in their proper clefs.

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