Technique in focus:
“On the (tie of a 2nd and an) augmented 4th”
Partimento and Example Realisations
Below are my simple realisations of Durante’s regola 28 “On the tie of a 2nd and an augmented 4th”. This partimento is to train the musician to resolve the tie of a 2nd (where the bass resolves by descending one step, thus creating a third); and the resolution of the augmented 4th (by the bass descending a step and the #4 rising to the 6th). I have included the bass, a two part realisation, and a three part realisation. The three part realisation is relatively florid; however, this serves to enhance the harmony rather than detract from it. Feel free to listen, play and download these realisations and use them to inspire your own realisation – improvised or written!
Audio
Score
Audio
Score
Partimento: A Beginner Method for Classical Improvisation
‘Partimento: A Beginner Method for Classical Improvisation’ eBook teaches the reader classical improvisation through updating the method of Partimento for the modern student.
During this book, we start by getting to know the basics of music, covered in Stage 1: Prerequisites. Then, from Stages 2-5 we tackle the main ingredients of improvisation (what the 18th century, Neapolitans called Regole, the “Rules”). Finally, in Stages 6-7 we practise improvising with, and without, partimenti. Here are the seven stages below:
Introduction (pp.5-10)
Stage 1 – Prerequisites (pp.11-42)
Stage 2 – Cadences (pp.43-69)
Stage 3 – Rule of the Octave (pp.70-89)
Stage 4 – Sequences (pp.90-133)
Stage 5 – Modulations (pp.134-166)
Stage 6 – Partimenti (pp.167-183)
Stage 7 – Improvise! (pp.184-215)
Conclusion (pp.216-223)
Take your first steps into classical improvisation on the rediscovered path of Partimento.
