Why are parallel perfect 5th's forbidden in four part writing (Soprano,Alto,Tenor and Bass)? Also,what is the difference between French,German and Italian 6th chords?
by 
Johnny the Fox
ANSWERS: 1
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Parallel perfect 5th's are forbidden because they sound bare and vulgar. If you play a phrase with and then without a parallel 5th the latter will sound more like the four part writing we are used to (although you may prefer the former for stylistic reasons). When Bach pioneered four part writing as we know it, he most likely didn't write and then use rules; he just wrote what sounded good. We then devised rules by studying his chorales, which is why he often breaks what we thing of as his own rules. As for the 6ths I don't know, sorry. I assume it's something to do with the way they are treated in a progression, but I can't see why there would be any difference.
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