The single affect principle is a musicological term describing the idea that contrasting affects (moods or sentiments) cannot belong in the one and the same musical movement,[1] the harmonic structure of which would thus be limited by enharmonic modulations.
It was one of the defining characteristics of pre-Classical period music (Renaissance music, Baroque music, etc.
), and gradually became obsolete ca.
There has been a resurgence of its use in contemporary historicist and minimalistmusic.
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