Thirteenth

However, Walter Piston, writing in 1952, considered that, "a true thirteenth chord, arrived at by superposition of thirds, is a rare phenomenon even in 20th-century music.

"[4] This may be due to four-part writing, instrument limitations, and voice leading and stylistic considerations.

The underlying harmony during a thirteenth chord is usually Mixolydian or Lydian dominant (see chord-scale system).

[8] These voice leading guidelines may not be followed after the common practice period in techniques such as parallel harmony and in the following example: 13th chords may less often be built on degrees other than the dominant, such as the tonic or subdominant.

Generally found in root position,[3] the inversion of a complete thirteenth chord including all seven notes, itself, "a rare phenomenon",[4] is a theoretical impossibility since a new thirteenth chord with a different root is produced, for example Cmaj13 (C-E-G-B-D-F-A) becomes [disputed – discuss] Em13♭9 (E-G-B-D-F-A-C) then G13 (G-B-D-F-A-C-E), and so on, when inverted.

Dominant thirteenth chord in Claude Debussy 's Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune (1894) [ 7 ] Play ⓘ
Thirteenth chords and major thirteenth chords with sheet music.
Alternating ( ♮ )13 and ♭ 13 chords in the "railroad sonority" from mm.1–4 of All Points West (1937) by Rodgers & Hart . [ 9 ] Play ⓘ
Lennie Tristano 's ending to " I Found a New Baby " (recorded 1946) is a "tonic thirteenth chord" [ 10 ] in lydian. Play ⓘ
The cadence in measures 5–8 of "Noreen's Nocturne" by Oscar Peterson (transcribed by Brent Edstrom) features 13th chords and also reveals the distinction between the compound and simple intervals of a 13th and an added 6th, respectively. [ 8 ] Play ⓘ
CM 13 , first inversion = [ disputed – discuss ] Em 13 ♭ 9 , 2nd inversion = G 13 ... ( Play ⓘ ). Eventually seven chords along a ladder of thirds .
Debussy's Pelléas et Mélisande motif, at Mélisande's entrance and later when Golaud asks if she ever loved Pelléas, features, in addition to the already usual ninth, a thirteenth is added and the chords are inverted so as to be founded on a "warm" close-position fourth. [ 20 ] Play ⓘ
A non-functional example: transitional thirteenth chord from Music in Twelve Parts by Philip Glass [ 21 ] Play ⓘ