Suggested Learning Resources
- In SATB writing, a suspension does not have to be held over the barline
(meaning it can occur within the measure).
- In SATB writing, a suspension may, or may not, involve a tied note.
- A suspension occurs when a pitch of a consonant harmonic interval is held
while the other voice(s) move. The suspended tone then resolves downward by step. There
are three parts to every suspension (1) the preparation, which is the harmonic consonance
prior to the suspension (2) the suspension, which usually forms a dissonant harmonic
interval, (3) the resolution, the result of the suspended note moving down by step
into a consonant harmonic interval
- A dissonant suspension is the most common type of suspension. It involves
a dissonant “suspended” interval moving to a consonant harmonic interval. If the
suspended note is in the top voice, the dissonant suspension types could be 4-3,
7-6, or 9-8 … where the first number dissonant interval (above the bass) and the
second number is the resolve consonant interval (above the same bass). If the suspended
pitch is in the bass voice, then the common dissonant suspension type is a 2-3.
- A consonant suspension is where both the suspended interval and the resolution
interval are both consonant. If the suspended pitch is in the upper voice the consonant
suspension type is 6-5.
- If you follow a suspension with the same type of suspension, that is called
creating a chain of suspensions. The common chain of suspension types are 4-3, 7-6,
and 2-3. The other suspension types are note found in chains as they imply parallel
5th or parallel octave motion
- A double suspension is when you have more than one suspension occur at
the same time.
- NOTE: Between the point of suspension and the point of resolution, you
may find embellishing pitches.
https://youtu.be/YrTEGIAsGlU?t=6m1s
Objective 21.2: Define Identify and Label the different types of suspensions in the
context of four-part SATB voicing (dissonant suspension, consonant suspension, chain
of suspensions, double suspension)