Level 2 · Course 25
Le chromatisme et l'harmonie chromatique avancée
Chromatic lines, Tristan chord, enharmonic modulation — tonality pushed to its limits.
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Pause Culture · Chromaticism and tonal ambiguity
Richard Wagner (1813–1883)
The Prelude to Tristan und Isolde opens with a chord that theorists still debate today. Wagner pushed chromaticism so far that tonality itself becomes uncertain — opening the path …
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À retenir : Chromaticism is not decoration — it is a deeper harmonic logic.
The great chromatic lines
Chromaticism is organized into directional lines — movements by semitones that create their own logic, distinct but complementary to diatonic harmony. Each chromatic line carries a precise expressive meaning.
Click a line to explore it and listen.
Universal rule of chromatic resolution:
♯ rises (C# → D) · ♭ descends (Db → C)
Never resolve a chromatic note in the direction opposite to its accidental — this is the most common mistake in harmonization.
♯ rises (C# → D) · ♭ descends (Db → C)
Never resolve a chromatic note in the direction opposite to its accidental — this is the most common mistake in harmonization.
Ascending vs descending chromaticism
Ascendant
Leads upward. Expresses aspiration, dramatic rise, desire.
Descendant
Darkens downward. Expresses resignation, lamentation, mourning — the chromaticism of the Baroque lamento.