Is it actually wrong to write an augmented fourth (diabolus in musica) into music?

  • Thread starter Thread starter yawnernonner
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Can you try argue the point cause I’m actually interested and I don’t really have a few years to wait nor do I think I will remember and since I am a pianist I doubt I won’t be hearing it for a while
 
I remember learning about this from my music history class in high school. My personal opinion is that it is not at all wrong to use an augmented 4th / diminished 5th, as long as it does not remain unresolved 😮

D
 
I was asking about composition, not about leading others to sin.
 
The tritone has been a generally accepted part of Western music since at least the seventeenth century, and is now unavoidable. Those CAF’ers who advise not listening to music that contains a tritone would have to stop listening to Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Gershwin, Elvis Presley, CCR, and just about every piece of music written between 1609 and now. If you want to restrict your car radio to Gregorian chant and Palestrina, go right ahead. Me, I’ll still be listening to the glorious riches of our musical heritage.
 
In the musical West Side Story Leonard Bernstein uses the tritone beautifully in the song “Maria.” The tension and resolution (from tritone to perfect fifth) represents the forbidden (dangerous) nature of their love as well as the purity of that love. ❤️ ❤️

Poor star-crossed lovers… :cry:

 
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