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4.4 Intervals: Emotional Power In Music
Table 21 below lists some reported emotional effects of various types of intervals, and specific intervals.
Keep in mind that the emotional power of intervals in music, like the emotional effects of other musical elements, varies with the musical context—the succession of preceding intervals, the prevailing chords and chord changes, rhythmic variables, instrumental tone colors, and so forth.
TABLE 21 Emotional Power and Effects of Intervals
Interval or Interval Type |
Associated Emotions |
|---|---|
| Consonant intervals | Pleasantness, generally positive emotional valence; not as strong or active as dissonant intervals |
| Dissonant intervals | Generally negative emotional valence, strength, activity |
| Major intervals | Brightness, strength |
| Minor Intervals | Dullness, weakness |
| Large intervals | Power |
| Small intervals | Weakness |
| Minor second | Melancholy, displeasure, anguish, darkness |
| Major second | Pleasurable longing, displeasure (neutral as a passing tone; see Chapter 9) |
| Minor third | Tragedy, sadness |
| Major third | Joy, happiness, brightness |
| Perfect fourth | Buoyancy, pathos (neutral as a passing tone; see Chapter 9) |
| Tritone (diabolus in musica) | Violence, danger, tension, devilishness (of course!) |
| Perfect fifth | Cheerfulness, stability |
| Minor sixth | Anguish, sadness |
| Major sixth | Winsomeness, pleasurable longing (neutral as a passing tone; see Chapter 9) |
| Dominant seventh | Irresolution, displeasure, mournfulness |
| Major seventh | Aspiration, displeasure, violent longing |
| Octave | Lightheartedness (i.e., sudden melodic leap) |