Reharmonize

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To change the chord structure of a musical piece by replacing original harmonies with new ones to alter its sound or mood
2. Modifying the harmonic progression of a composition by introducing different chords to create alternative tonal effects
3. Transforming the underlying chords in a melody to give it a fresh harmonic context or reinterpretation

Etymology: The prefix "re-" here is the ordinary Latin "again" or "back," attached to "harmonize," so the verb means to harmonize something anew. "Harmonize" itself traces back to the Ancient Greek "harmonia," meaning a fitting together or joining, which came into Latin as "harmonia" and reached English through French "harmonie." The Greek noun is built on a root meaning to fit or join, so a harmony was originally a fitting-together of parts. English took "harmonize" from French "harmoniser," which was formed in French on the Latin-based stem with the suffix "-iser," itself from Greek "-izein" by way of Late Latin "-izare." The verb moved from its literal sense of making parts fit into the musical sense of supplying suitable accompanying notes. Reharmonizing, then, is the everyday musician's act of taking an existing melody and giving it new chords, so that the same tune fits together in a different way.

Synonyms: rearrange harmony, reaccompany, recompose harmony, revoice