Date of Award

8-2025

Degree Type

Masters Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Music (MM)

School

Music

Committee Chair

Douglas Rust

Committee Chair School

Music

Committee Member 2

Danny Beard

Committee Member 2 School

Music

Committee Member 3

Joseph Brumbeloe

Committee Member 3 School

Music

Committee Member 4

Ashley Allen

Committee Member 4 School

Music

Abstract

The short looping forms in Japanese video game music feature rapid modulations based on common chord progressions that necessitate contextual readings of harmonies in various keys to isolate how they manipulate tonal space. One such progression used by Japanese game music composers utilizes chains of predominant-dominant chords to move key centers by conflating function in minor-third related keys. These triumphant sounding transitional phrases are uniquely valuable in a medium dominated by stories of heroism and fighting authorities both earthly and divine. Building on the functional framework of 19th century theorists and existing popular music research, two models are created that help to visualize predominant-dominant chains: the minor-third grid and functional maps. Christopher Doll’s “centric ambiguity” and Drew Nobile’s conception of Robert Bailey’s “double-tonic complex” are used to contextually analyze predominant-dominant chains with similar function in minor-third related keys and to isolate bass notes that are divorced from the rest of the chain respectively. Predominant-dominant chains and the minor-third grid also open new opportunities for additional interactions with various other chord progressions in the style to be explored in the future.

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