Picardy third

A picardy third (also known as Tierce de Picardie) is a harmonic device used in European classical music.

Related Topics:
Picardie - European classical music

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It refers to the use of a major chord at the end of a or musical section in a minor key. This is achieved by raising the third of the expected minor triad to create a major triad. The aural effect of this is unexpected on the ear, and can add a "bittersweet" feeling to the music.

Related Topics:
Section - Minor key - Minor triad - Major triad

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For example, instead of a cadence ending on an A minor chord containing the notes A, C and E, a tierce de Picardie ending would consist of an A major chord containing the notes A, C# and E. Note that the minor third between the A and C of the A minor chord have become a major third in the tierce de Picardie chord.

Related Topics:
Cadence - Chord - A major

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The picardy third does not necessarily have to be found at the end of a section — it can be found at any perfect cadence although it may also occur as the final chord in a plagal cadence. There is no such device as the "Inverted" picardy third, where an expected major chord is replaced by its minor equivalent. (The final sections of some works, for example the first symphony of Samuel Barber certainly end in a way that strongly suggests and then belies an ending in major, but this is not the same thing, even dramatically using a Picardy third before the end of the work as part of the dramatic process, but this is not what an inverted Picardy third would be.)

Related Topics:
Perfect cadence - First symphony - Samuel Barber

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