Is it Acceptable to Build Chords on Accidental Notes in Classical Music?

Question

I'm writing a clarinet solo with piano accompaniment in B minor. Is is normal to use a D minor chord (or just the first two notes) in classical music (specifically romantic)? I do have a regular chord progression: the D minor would just be a short 'unresolved' part leading into a repetition of the melody.

Answer 1

I would argue that you have license to write what you please when you are the composer. If you are looking for a reason to justify accidentals in your work, chromatic harmony is certainly commonplace in the Romantic style. I suggest you weigh up your options and try to think of your exact reason to alter the dominant in the context that you are preparing.

Answer 2

In the key of B minor, the D minor chord is not in the key -- but this is great for romanticism if you use it correctly. The changed note would be an F-natural, whereas B minor contains an F-sharp. If you make sure the F-sharp follows the F-natural -- creating an augmented unison -- it could be a chromatic mediant, which is nifty and good for the late-romantic style. (A good example of a chromatic mediant is found in the beginning of Dvorak's New World Symphony.)

However, a few other unrelated things also come to my attention:

-What key is the clarinet in? I'm not sure what your background is in orchestration, but it's important to know that there are three different clarinets. It matters which one you use, because they sound and are played differently. I can explain this in more detail if you'd like.

-B minor is not a great choice for woodwinds in general. I'd advise using a flat key, if possible, because pianists don't really care but woodwinds much prefer flats to sharps.