Predominant-Dominant Chains in Japanese Video Game Music

<p>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 19^th 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.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Music (MM)

Level thesis:degree_level

Masters Thesis

Year dc:date.available

2025

Author dc:creator

• Davis, Evan R

Contributors dc:contributor

• Douglas Rust
• Danny Beard
• Joseph Brumbeloe

• Chord Progression
• Real sequence
• Touhou
• Final Fantasy
• Super Mario
• Walkup
• Music Theory

Repository record dc:identifier

https://aquila.usm.edu/masters_theses/1121

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:aquila.usm.edu:masters_theses-2215