Hi in case of the key of C,
what does V/vi mean?
Thanks

Probably supposed to be V/VI Looks like it refers to chording. V would a root position chord on G Dominant) , and the same for VI (Submediant) on A. At least I cant think of any other explanation

This is tonicization - to do with secondary dominants. I hope someone else can explain it clearly here, as I don't think I can but it's a transient modulation. If you've got Practice in Music theory by Josephine Koh it's explained quite clearly on page 24. Sorry if this isn't much help but it really needs a clear explanation.

I think its when you modulate, but only for one phrase, so you treat the chord as the tonic, but im not 100% on that.

V VI is an Interrupted cadence. Is that what you mean?

There are four main cadences which you have to recognise from fairly early on: V I (perfect), I V (imperfect), IV I (plagal) and V VI (interrupted).

You need to know these for both theory and aural - or you did years ago when I did them!

Edit: just looked in my son's pink AB book and discovered that an interrupted cadence is actually V followed by anything other than I, but V VI is probably more common, as in my day that was the only one we were taught for Grade 5 theory.

BershireMum,

I agree with your cadence chords, except 'Imperfect' could technically be:

I - V,
ii - V,
IV - V

etc etc - basically a cadence ending on the dominant chord.

denmark

edit

Sorry ! 'BershireMum' should read BerkshireMum

denmark

And yes, I agree with jmhamilton

V/vi looks like tonicisation, the secondary dominant / transient modulation thingy. Don't ask me to explain it though... Brief modulation to another key, but not settling for long enough to count as a full blown modulation? So in this case, chord V in one key becomes, functionally, vi in another, at the same time.

My brain hurts now....

denmark

The text below has been copied from the Dolmetsch website. Having read it I'm not sure that it'll make it any clearer for you, but as I said above the Josephine Koh book explains it well and there are lots of exercises to do. If it's any consolation I did Grade 7 theory and didn't come across this in the paper I sat or in the past papers I did, so I wouldn't lose any sleep over it.

(Tonicization) "also called 'false modulation' or 'transitory modulation', tonicization is a process that temporarily allows a chord other than the tonic to function as a goal of motion or point of stability, and therefore, function as a temporary tonic. A chord is said to be "tonicized," when it is preceded by its own dominant, dominant seventh, seven chord, or diminished seventh, that is, the dominant determined by the key of the chord. Tonicization is a local event, unlike modulation, which implies establishing a new key centre and continuing in the new key. Any chord in a major key, except VII, can be preceded by its own dominant. Any chord in the natural minor, except II, can be preceded by its own dominant"

Crumbs, how many more different explanations can we come up with between us?!

Does 'V/vi' refer to one chord or two consecutive ones? It's hard to say definitively without more detail, but I would guess it means chord V (i.e. the dominant) of vi (i.e. the relative minor). The reason vi is in lower case is because it's a minor key/chord.

So if 'V/vi' refers to an E major chord (the existence of a G# would be a big clue!) then it's the dominant of the relative minor (the 'secondary dominant' that some people have referred to). It does indeed sound like a transitory modulation to (or 'tonicization' of) the relative minor. (I'm sure you know the relative minor of C major is A minor.)

I don't think it's anything to do with a cadence, unless the chord symbols refer to two separate chords.

I am 100% sure about the answer to this question: it is the E major triad, which is the dominant triad of A minor, the vi key of C major.

Generally, the slash is used in the labelling of secondary dominant. Thus, the roman numeral preceding the slash must be a chord of dominant function, i.e. V or viio (the little circle represents diminished quality). The roman numeral following the slash is the chord being tonicized.

I just knew someone would explain it clearly.

V is the roman numeral for the DOMINANT degree (5th degree) of a scale. It is a MAJOR triad in both major and minor keys (and hence the numeral is written with a capital).

vi is the SUBMEDIANT degree (6th degree) of a scale. It has a MINOR tonality in a major key. (Minor triads have their roman numerals written as small case)

So, in C major,
V is G+B+D - GBD (chord on the dominant)
vi is A+C+E - ACE (chord on the submediant)

Yes. It's Tonicisation. A temporary perfect cadence to the sixth of the scale of the key you're currently in. Generally followed by the vi chord. There's stuff about this in Josephine Koh's book.