harmonic progression

American  

noun

Mathematics.

1. a series of numbers the reciprocals of which are in arithmetic progression.

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harmonic progression British  

noun

1. a sequence of numbers whose reciprocals form an arithmetic progression, as 1, 1/ 2 , 1/ 3 , …

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harmonic progression Scientific  

1. A sequence of quantities whose reciprocals form an arithmetic progression, such as 1, 1/3, 1/5, 1/7, …. and so on.

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Etymology

Origin of harmonic progression

First recorded in 1865–70

Example Sentences

After revisiting Edgard Varèse’s music, he built upon Varèse’s ideas about building and extending musical structures that are independent from standard harmonic progressions.

From The Wall Street Journal

"As a fundamental principle in music composition, it is necessary to combine temporal sequences from tension-building to resolution in various scales, from harmonic progressions to entire movements," Nagai writes.

From Science Daily

The variations, all but three in the same major key, utilize roughly the same harmonic progression, so listeners are lulled by the shared cadence but also dazzled by the inventiveness that masks it.

From New York Times

“To explore interesting harmonic progressions and work with melodies that sing.”

From Washington Post

The overall effect is of a smoothly unfurling carpet — reminiscent of Philip Glass in its unhurried yet wrenching harmonic progressions — atop which voices soar.

From New York Times