Dennis K asked 7 years ago
I have a question about the modulation in “Home Sick from School” from Course 101. In Bar 7, you modulate to G Major from C Major. On the repeat, Bar 1, you start back at C Major without modulating. Similar situation in Bar 12, when you return to C Major, but on the repeat you are in G Major. Is it okay to start the repeat without modulating from the key you just left?
Jon Brantingham Staff answered 7 years ago
The reason this works is that modulating to V still gets you to the original dominant in C major. This allows you to move directly back to C major with no additional efforts.
Had we modulated to a different key area, say to iii, then it wouldn’t be as smooth.
That being said, I find it is okay to do a direct modulation at the end of formal sections. Because of the natural closure that happens, your brain accepts more obscure direct modulations that would be very jarring within the theme itself.