Intonation-fingering vs. speed of passage

[GC]

You can used the raised (ascending) melodic minor form going in either direction if the underlying harmony calls for it. Likewise the descending form depends on the most recent chord. Thinking in G minor, would you want an F in a descending passage over a D7 chord (D-F#-A-C) in anything other than jazz?

[PMeuph]

How would you name: g f# e d c Bb a g ?

In traditional Western 1600-1900 diatonic music theory: wrong.

I think "wrong" is the wrong word. .... Unusual is probably more suited.

I agree with what GC said, and, extending that with an example we all probably know: Do you recall the last three pitches of the 1st Mvt. of Galliard's 5h Sonata?

Here's the link:
http://imslp.org/wiki/Special:ImagefromIndex/35298" target="_blank

Over a dominant harmony (preceded by a cadential 6/4) the three pitches heard are d -c#- b. Something that "shouldn't" happen in minor. Same thing happens in measure 3 of movement 2. This time extending down to the a. Indeed in that measure the is a descent that includes the flat 3 and the raised 6 and 7.

Scales are abstractions designed for practice and learning, they are not the be all end all elements of music, the music is.


The following example is something that is unusual for the time period. Since we're on the topic of intonation, how about intonation and difficult sonorities? (Chord doesn't seem quite appropriate in my mind) What would be the best way to tune the opening chord of the following excerpt?

[Todd S. Malicoate]

I was never arguing that the use of the ascending melodic minor in a descending scale pattern is "wrong" or even "unusual."

I was simply pointing out that if one of my section mates told me to play a g melodic minor scale descending I wouldn't play F# or E. Then I would think, "Man, that was weird. Why not just tell me to play a g minor scale?"

[PMeuph]

I was never arguing that the use of the ascending melodic minor in a descending scale pattern is "wrong" or even "unusual."

My reply wasn't aimed at you, it was aimed at iiipopes.

[Todd S. Malicoate]

My reply wasn't aimed at you, it was aimed at iiipopes.

Nor was mine aimed at you but rather at the discussion in general.