Hangharmónia

Hangharmónia is a term used in Hungarian music theory to describe the organization of sound materials to produce perceived harmony. It encompasses pitch relationships, timbre, dynamics, articulation, and spatial placement of sound, and is employed in music analysis, pedagogy, and composition.

Etymologically, hangharmónia combines hang ("sound") and harmónia ("harmony"). The concept reflects a tradition in which harmony is not solely about fixed chord structures but about the blending of timbres and the shaping of sound spectra over time, sometimes inspired by Hungarian folk textures such as drones and heterophony.

Core principles include the management of consonance and dissonance through spectral balance and voice leading, the use of timbral blending to reinforce perceived harmony, and the shaping of musical texture through dynamics and articulation. Analysis often focuses on how pitch relations interact with timbre and envelope to create cohesive sonorities.

In pedagogy and contemporary practice, hangharmónia guides students and composers to consider not only what notes are played but how sound quality, layering, and motion contribute to a sense of unity. In modern sound design and multi-channel music, the concept informs decisions about spatialization and the distribution of harmonic content across channels.