# The Life of Chords

- Institution: Gresham College
- Taught by: Professor Marina Frolova-Walker, Peter Donohoe CBE
- Year: 2022
- Level: For everyone
- Language: English
- Subjects: History, Music
- Source: [Gresham College](https://www.gresham.ac.uk/watch-now/series/life-chords)
- Licence: [Educational use (Gresham College's terms)](https://www.gresham.ac.uk/terms-and-conditions)
- Who can watch: Teens profiles and older (sources give no ratings; placed by Invisible Network from the source's own words)

The major triad is considered the foundation of tonal music, its privileged position owed to its presence in the harmonic series of acoustics. The minor triad lacks this acoustic foundation, which led to it being treated as less stable, and even pieces in a minor key usually ended on the major form of the same triad. From the late 18th century onwards, major was paired with joy and minor with sorrow, and composers could play with these associations.

## Lectures

1. [Triads, Major and Minor](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/gresham/series-life-chords/fd2639ce62cd) (YouTube)
2. [The Dominant Seventh Chord](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/gresham/series-life-chords/4750326e1476) (YouTube)
3. [Musical Cadences](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/gresham/series-life-chords/2f664f684f95) (YouTube)
4. [Diminished and Augmented Chords](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/gresham/series-life-chords/32fd2f5c9a3a) (YouTube)
5. [Famous Chords](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/gresham/series-life-chords/251d8df2f4c4) (YouTube)
6. [Life Without Chords? – Atonal Music](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/gresham/series-life-chords/d8ec464b3403) (YouTube)