submediant

American  

[suhb-mee-dee-uhnt] / sʌbˈmi di ənt /

noun

Music.

1. the sixth tone of a diatonic scale, being midway between the subdominant and the upper tonic.

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submediant British  

/ sʌbˈmiːdɪənt /

noun

1. the sixth degree of a major or minor scale

2. a key or chord based on this

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adjective

1. of or relating to the submediant

Etymology

Origin of submediant

First recorded in 1800–10; sub- + mediant

Example Sentences

In the opening Allegro the second subject occurs, by way of exception, in the major key of the submediant.

From The Pianoforte Sonata Its Origin and Development by Shedlock, J. S. (John South)

The cream is made in three color tones—the vanilla being the subdominant, as the chord is of subdominant character; the strawberry being the submediant, and the restful green the lowered supertonic or altered tone.”

From The So-called Human Race by Taylor, Bert Leston

To be sure, Beethoven did invent the change to a lowered submediant in a succeeding movement.

From Symphonies and Their Meaning; Third Series, Modern Symphonies by Goepp, Philip H.

A bright, though formal Scherzo, with a well-contrasted Trio in the key of the submediant, is followed by a melodious Andante and a graceful, showy Allegretto.

From The Pianoforte Sonata Its Origin and Development by Shedlock, J. S. (John South)