Durante – Regola 28

Technique in focus:
“On the (tie of a 2nd and an) augmented 4th”

The example above demonstrates the contrapuntal movements emhasised in Durante’s 28th rule. I have included all three positions – notice how the third position begins with a doubled 5th; if an octave were to be included, then this would lead to either parallel fifths or a doubled third, neither of which are desirable.

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!