Berlioz Posted January 30, 2007 Share Posted January 30, 2007 Is there such a thing as a common viennese chord progression? Like something coming from the Strauss family, Lanner or Von Supp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J. Lee Graham Posted January 31, 2007 Share Posted January 31, 2007 There are certainly chord progressions that are characteristically Viennese, but none that I know if that are specific or exclusive to Viennese music, by which I presume you mean late 19th-Century dance and theatre music written by the composers you mentioned. A tune from Johann Strauss, Jr's Tales From The Vienna Woods illustrates some characteristics of Viennese music of this style and period rather well (attached, forgive me if it's not 100% accurate, I wrote it out from memory). One characteristic of Viennese music is the penchant toward harmonising melodies in parallel 3rds and 6ths, found throughout this example. The prevailing chord progression of this example is also a very common trait of this kind of music: ii (1st inversion), I (2nd inversion), V7, I - or specifically here: g minor (with B-flat in the bass), F (with C in the bass), C7, and F. 6th, 7th and 9th chords also give this music a characteristic flavour, such a Gm7 (measure 2) and C9 (measure 14) in this example. Many of these same traits are to be heard in Austrian and Tyrolean folk music, from which much of the Viennese style is derived. The Waltz itself is an evolution of a German folk dancing. Hope that helps a little. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Berlioz Posted January 31, 2007 Author Share Posted January 31, 2007 Hmmm... Yes, that's a nice one. And how about polkas? Do they have the same kind chord progressions? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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