Fundamental structure

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In Schenkerian analysis, the fundamental structure (German: Ursatz) is a specific musical pattern that occurs at the most remote (or "background") level of structure. A basic elaboration of the tonic triad, it consists of the fundamental line accompanied by the bass arpeggiation. Hence the fundamental structure, like the fundamental line itself, takes one of three forms, according to which tonic triad pitch is the primary tone. The following is an example in C major, with the fundamental line descending from scale degree 3:

[edit] References

• Cadwallader, Allen and Gagné, David. Analysis of Tonal Music: A Schenkerian Approach. New York: Oxford University Press, 1998.
• Schenker, Heinrich. Free Composition. Ernst Oster, tr. and ed. New York: Longman.