Definition

Noun: 1. The act or process of revising the harmonic structure of a piece of music: It refers to the technique of changing the chords (harmony) that accompany a melody, while typically keeping the melody itself recognizable. 2. A piece of music that has undergone this process: It can also refer to the resulting musical work itself after its original harmony has been revised.

Usage Examples

• As the process:
  • The jazz pianist's brilliant reharmonization of the standard tune gave it a completely new emotional color.
  • Studying reharmonization is essential for advanced jazz arranging and composition.
• As the resulting piece:
  • This album features modern reharmonizations of several classic folk songs.
  • The composer presented a fascinating reharmonization of the national anthem for the ceremony.

Advanced Usage

• Reharmonization is a core skill in jazz, allowing musicians to personalize and modernize existing songs. It often involves substituting original chords with more complex or colorful chord progressions (e.g., using tritone substitutions, added extensions like 9ths, 11ths, and 13ths, or modal interchange).
• The term implies a deliberate and artistic reworking, distinct from a simple mistake or incorrect chord played during a performance.

Variants and Related Words

• Reharmonize (verb): To revise the harmony of a piece of music.
  • The arranger was asked to reharmonize the bridge section for the string quartet.
• Harmonization (noun): The original act of adding harmony to a melody.
• Re-orchestration (noun): Revising the instrumental arrangement, which may include but is not limited to harmonic changes.

Synonyms

• Harmonic revision
• Chord substitution
• Harmonic reworking

Antonyms

• Original harmony
• Standard harmonization

Noun

1. a piece of music whose original harmony has been revised