Picardy third

Under picardischer third one understands the music, the great major third in the tonic final chord of a musical section, which actually is in a minor key. The minor triad was true of the old masters, such as Zarlino ( 1558 ) points out, as less perfect than the major triad, and therefore the perfect major chord has the final chord enforced as whitening.

The idea of ​​letting minor pieces end with a major chord, was allegedly invented in the French province of Picardy.

This tradition remained as a convention to the Baroque. In Johann Sebastian Bach, for example, ends of many hymns, Orgeltoccaten & c., Which are in a minor key, with a major chord, but sometimes even (for example, in the Toccata in D minor, BWV 565 ) with a minor chord. After the baroque period major conclusions in a minor key compositions are to be regarded only as a means of expression and were so rare. Mozart's time the minor final was in the minor keys already the usual.

Simultaneously with the disappearance of the Picardy third the mean- moods were replaced by wohltempertierte moods. That the practice of major final chord was abandoned due to the introduction of the well-tempered tunings, is a controversial thesis.

Sample:

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Comparison of interval sizes (in cents):

• Interval
• Chord