Voice-Leading Rules
The traditional rules of
voice-leading can be derived from
principles of auditory stream segregation
(Huron, 1997;
2000).
E.g. pitch proximity principle:
-
Retain common pitches in the same voice
or part.
-
Move by step; avoid leaps.
-
Avoid the crossing of parts.
E.g. of more complicated rule:
-
When approaching an octave by similar motion,
ensure that one of the parts moves by step.
(Derived from conjunction of three principles:
Tonal Fusion, Pitch Proximity, and
Pitch Co-modulation)
Copyright © 2000 David Huron