Cambiata

What it means

The cambiata, also called the changing note, is a dissonance that in contrapuntal theory requires no preparation by a consonant preceding tone. It typically arises when a voice moves stepwise downward to a dissonant note, then leaps a third further down from there, before proceeding stepwise to the actually expected note of resolution.

Musical use

Renaissance and Baroque contrapuntists counted the cambiata among the few exceptions to the rule that every dissonance must be prepared and resolved stepwise. Its characteristic leap of a third after the dissonance distinguishes it from simple passing and neighbor notes, which are always approached and left stepwise.

The cambiata should be distinguished from the suspension, which is always prepared and usually resolves stepwise downward, whereas the cambiata occurs unprepared and, through its leap of a third, takes a path to resolution unusual for strict counterpoint.