Harmonic Charge

Just as with the scale tones, the harmonies in traditional Western tonal music are not equal: there are trivial chord and fantastic chords.
Harmonic charge is a concept reflecting the remarkableness of chord in its harmonic context. It is a weighted sum of the chord tones' melodic charges, using the root of the main chord of the key, i. e. the root of the tonic as the reference.
Listen to the various harmonies in the chord progression example. The second chord, A major, is not very remarkable, while the fourth chord, B major, in bar 5, is very remarkable.

Chord progression D A D B Em A D WAV file (1.2M, CD quality) AU file (111k, good quality)

Chord progression D A D B Em A D	WAV file (1.2M, CD quality)	AU file (111k, good quality)

This page contains two examples

Example n. 1: F Schubert, Second theme from the First movement of Symphony in b minor, "Unfinished"

No-Harmonic-Charge k = 0 WAV file (1.5M, CD quality) AU file (138k, good quality)
Medium k = 2.5 WAV file (1.5M, CD quality) AU file (136k, good quality)
Exaggerated k = 4.0 WAV file (1.5M, CD quality) AU file (136k, good quality)
Inverted k = -2.5 WAV file (1.5M, CD quality) AU file (140k, good quality)

No-Harmonic-Charge	k = 0	WAV file (1.5M, CD quality)	AU file (138k, good quality)
Medium	k = 2.5	WAV file (1.5M, CD quality)	AU file (136k, good quality)
Exaggerated	k = 4.0	WAV file (1.5M, CD quality)	AU file (136k, good quality)
Inverted	k = -2.5	WAV file (1.5M, CD quality)	AU file (140k, good quality)

The graphs show the changes in loudness induced by the Harmonic charge rule. Tempo is changed proportionally, so that it is slowed down when a chord approaches which has a higher harmonic charge than the previous chord, and vice versa.

No-Harmonic-Charge, k = 0
WAV file (1.5M, CD quality) AU file (138k, good quality)

No-Harmonic-Charge, k = 0
WAV file (1.5M, CD quality)	AU file (138k, good quality)

Medium, k = 2.5
WAV file (1.5M, CD quality) AU file (136k, good quality)

Medium, k = 2.5
WAV file (1.5M, CD quality)	AU file (136k, good quality)

Exaggerated, k = 4.0
WAV file (1.5M, CD quality) AU file (136k, good quality)

Exaggerated, k = 4.0
WAV file (1.5M, CD quality)	AU file (136k, good quality)

Inverted, k = -2.5
WAV file (1.5M, CD quality) AU file (140k, good quality)

Inverted, k = -2.5
WAV file (1.5M, CD quality)	AU file (140k, good quality)

Listen also to how the rule works when applied together with a set of other performance rules.
In this example many rules are applied, such as:

The higher, the louder, increasing loudness with increasing pitch;
Melodic Charge, enhancing differences between scale tones;
Double Duration, reducing the duration differences in note sequences of alternately doubled and halved durations;
Punctuation, marking by micropauses boundaries between melodic gestures;
Ensemble Synchronization, bringing about synchrony in ensemble playing;
Leap tone duration, lengthening target tones in leaps; and
Harmonic Charge, creating crescendos and diminuendos depending on the chord progression.

You can vary the effect of the last mentioned rule only.

Example n. 2: J Brahms, Theme in third movement of the Quartet in c minor for piano and strings, Op 60.

No-Harmonic-Charge k = 0 WAV file (2M, CD quality) AU file (179k, good quality)
Medium k = 2.5 WAV file (2M, CD quality) AU file (179k, good quality)
Exaggerated k = 5.0 WAV file (2M, CD quality) AU file (181k, good quality)
Inverted k = -2.5 WAV file (2M, CD quality) AU file (180k, good quality)

No-Harmonic-Charge	k = 0	WAV file (2M, CD quality)	AU file (179k, good quality)
Medium	k = 2.5	WAV file (2M, CD quality)	AU file (179k, good quality)
Exaggerated	k = 5.0	WAV file (2M, CD quality)	AU file (181k, good quality)
Inverted	k = -2.5	WAV file (2M, CD quality)	AU file (180k, good quality)

No-Harmonic-Charge, k = 0
WAV file (2M, CD quality) AU file (179k, good quality)

No-Harmonic-Charge, k = 0
WAV file (2M, CD quality)	AU file (179k, good quality)

Medium, k = 2.5
WAV file (2M, CD quality) AU file (179k, good quality)

Medium, k = 2.5
WAV file (2M, CD quality)	AU file (179k, good quality)

Exaggerated, k = 5.0
WAV file (2M, CD quality) AU file (181k, good quality)

Exaggerated, k = 5.0
WAV file (2M, CD quality)	AU file (181k, good quality)

Inverted, k = -2.5
WAV file (2M, CD quality) AU file (180k, good quality)

Inverted, k = -2.5
WAV file (2M, CD quality)	AU file (180k, good quality)

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