David, > In a minor key, I'm not entirely sure what to do with the V chord. > When there's *no other* indication to tell me what kind of third to > play (e.g. a melody note, or some other written part, or a sharp sign > in the figures), does the V chord take a major third or a minor third? > In a major key, obviously the V is major, but what about a minor key...?
The simplistic solution is to look to the family of C major (and I have an advantage as a lever harpist as as I am fixed in a diatonic scale once I set the levers for the key signature - unless I flip during the piece). The relative minor of C is A (as you well know) - and the V chord is an E triad on the "white keys", making it a minor third. As to the Caccini piece, why do you assume that the key is G minor when it has the one flat signature of F major? Is that because of the "minor" sound of the piece? If you feel that the tonic is G then that would probably make it Dorian mode, a minor sounding mode (the tonic being the II of the basic major (Ionian)). I come back to the diatonic C scale. The seven modes can be harmonized with no "black keys", as long as the composer didn't intend them. (And I'm leaving out the several minors). I haven't heard much in Phrygian, Lydian or Lochrian - but the Doran and Mixolydian are common modes with a minor sound. (The Aolian being the "relative minor", and it sometimes varied at the VII note). Best, Jon
