9689 / 18210 · Workshop 80 — Harmonic Ambiguity and Delayed Identity: Sus Chords, No-3rd Voicings, Slash Chords, Pedals, and Letting the Listener Discover the Harmony← prev⊞ allnext →
80.9Harmonic ambiguity creates retrospective meaning
After E appears, the listener thinks:
“Ah, that earlier open sonority belonged to C major.”
After E♭ appears:
“Ah, it was preparing C minor.”
The earlier music has not changed.
Its interpretation has.