Harmonic or Non-Harmonic? A Formal and Scientific Analysis of Three Musical Tones in Petzold’s “Minuet In G”

Through the years leading up to Schonberg composers ignored the concept of non-harmonic tones and treated them as extended harmonies. This study scientifically analyses instances regarded as non-harmonic in music theory to resolve the contention surrounding such tones in order to inform music tonal harmony. Minuet in “G” by Christian Petzold was purposively selected and subjected to Overtone Analyzer to examine instances where tones that are regarded as non harmonic in music theory could be seen as extended harmonic tones. The analysis showed that these tones, although regarded as non-harmonic tones in music theory, have harmonic traces in the overtones of the members of the pivot chord. The study, therefore, concludes that the assumed non-harmonic tones in Minuet in G, are naturally part of the chord they are presented with and are, therefore, extended harmonies as some earlier composers pointed out. The researchers, therefore, recommend a reconsideration of approaches to non-harmonic tones in music theory to foster unlimited perception in tonal harmony.

Keywords: Harmonic, non-harmonic, overtone, extended harmonies