Stückakkord

Stückakkord is a term found in some German-language music theory texts, literally meaning "piece chord." It is not a standard, universally defined concept in modern theory, and its precise meaning varies between authors. Generally, it refers to a chord or set of chords that underlie a musical work or a major section, providing harmonic support for the melodic material. In analyses, scholars may use the term to indicate a recurring sonority that accompanies a melodic motif, or the principal harmonic bed that grounds a section of a piece.

Etymology: from Stück (piece, section) and Akkord (chord). Usage is not standardized; some writers connect it with accompaniment or a stable harmonic footprint associated with a part.

Examples: Because usage is not canonical, there is no single progression to cite. A Stückakkord would typically be identified by consistent pitch content across phrases or its regular placement at a phrase boundary.

Relation to other concepts: It overlaps with harmony, chord progression, and accompaniment. It is distinct from more technical terms like functional harmony, but it may relate to tonic, dominant, and subdominant roles.

History and reception: The term appears sporadically in older German theory writings and pedagogy; it is less common in contemporary analytic language, where more precise terminology is preferred.

See also: harmony, chord progression, accompaniment, tonal function.