Two-part harmonization

In Pie Jesu you will notice that the two soloists always sing together in harmony to the same rhythm, with the
soprano singing the melody and the treble singing intervals below that fit the indicated chords.

Examine the extract from Pie Jesu.

Which intervals are used mainly between the two soloists’ melody lines? As you can see, it is mainly 3 rd and 6ths.

You need to be able to harmonise a melody with a second part in both vocal and instrumental music. Read the
guidelines that follow for the correct use of intervals in two-part harmonization.
Guidelines for two-part harmonization

1. Use basically 3rds and 6ths, as they sound most effective.

2. Octaves and unisons should not be followed by other octaves or unisons – the effect is quite uninteresting.
3. Use Perfect 5ths only on weak beats as they have a bare sound. Do not use Perfect 5ths one after the other.
4. Use 2nds, 4ths and 7ths only when one of the notes is the 7 th of the dominant seventh chord and resolves
correctly e.g.

5. The distance between the two parts should be no more than an octave. However, intervals of a 10 th (an
octave plus a 3rd) can be used sparingly.
6. Non-chordal notes such as passing or auxiliary notes may be harmonized with other passing or auxiliary
notes if they form intervals of a 3rd, 6th or octave e.g.

The non-chordal notes are indicate with *

7. Leaps in the second part must occur only between chordal notes (see bars 2 & 3 above).

Harmonise the following melody with a second part following the guidelines on the previous page.

Harmonise the following melody with a second part following the guidelines given in this lesson. Both parts will be
written on the same staff.