Solfege: “Ode to Joy”

Melodic analysis & Solfege ear training for the theme from Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy” …

Part 1. Read, play, listen, and sing/hum along…

Notice that the theme is 8 bars long and consists of two almost identical 4-bar phrases (except for the last three notes).

---

Part 2. Use your piano, ears, voice, and knowledge of music theory to figure out the key center (Do) and tonality (major, minor, mixolydian, dorian, blues, etc) and name each note using Solfege…

---

Part 3. Scroll down to check your work…

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

The first 4-bar phrase ends on the active note Re, an active tone which leaves the melody unresolved. And the second 4-bar phrase ends on Do, which fully resolves the harmonic tension.

---

Part 4. Play and sing the Solfege syllables out loud–and slowly enough to allow the unique sound-feeling of each syllable to seep into your mind’s ear.

---

Extra Credit. Explain how the placement of each note within the meter affects it’s function (Please comment below).

---

learn more… Scales