Chromatic Mediant and Tertian Relations in Israeli Popular Music

Abstract

This article examines unique and non-diatonic chords relationships or harmony that do not necessary relate to the concept of modal interchange. This relationship is called the Chromatic Mediant. This article studies this topic, focusing on popular songs from the Israeli music field. It is the first to establish the role of these chord relations in Israeli music and understand their harmonic meaning. We will see examples of the Chromatic Mediant in the songs of some of Israel’s most celebrated songwriters: Shalom Hanoch, Danny Sanderson, Matti Caspi, Meir Banai, Shlomi Shaban, and even some more alternative rock bands such as Rockfour. In total, we will review eight songs that include the Chromatic Mediant’s and tertian relations’ aspect or other kind of interesting tertian relations, and understand their harmony. This article displays how the Chromatic Mediant and tertian relations allow for movements, which expands the tonal spectrum, as well as the addition of chromatic colors and, at the same time, remains committed to the tonal frame.