10629 / 18210 · Workshop 87 — Harmonic Rhythm as Narrative: Accelerating, Decelerating, Delaying, and Reframing Chord Changes to Shape Form← prev⊞ allnext →
87.114Apply it to “Happy Birthday”
Use the original melody.
Phrase 1: slow harmony.
Phrase 2: normal.
Phrase 3: accelerate underneath the climax.
Phrase 4: delay final tonic slightly.
On second pass:
reverse the idea.
Make phrase 3 sparse.
Then final cadence moves quickly through one chromatic approach before a long C6/9.
The tune becomes expressive without requiring elaborate substitutions.