What was significant about the harmonic shift in the B phrase of 'Tea for Two'?

What was significant about the harmonic shift in the B phrase of 'Tea for Two'?

• A. It introduced a minor key
• B. It introduced an unexpected major harmony, creating a chromatic mediant that added zest to the song
• C. It repeated the same chord progression
• D. It modulated to a distant key

Answer: (B)

The key idea is a brief coloristic shift to an unexpected major harmony that forms a chromatic mediant relationship with the home key. A chromatic mediant happens when you move to a major (or minor) chord whose root sits a third away from the tonic and isn’t diatonically in the key. That creates a bright, surprising color, rather than sticking with the same diatonic flow. In the B phrase of Tea for Two, this move injects a lively, zestful character by introducing a major harmony that sits outside the usual key-centered progression. It isn’t a full modulation to a distant key, and it isn’t simply repeating the same chords; it’s that quick, bold color shift that livens the song and then can quickly return to the original tonal center.

The key idea is a brief coloristic shift to an unexpected major harmony that forms a chromatic mediant relationship with the home key. A chromatic mediant happens when you move to a major (or minor) chord whose root sits a third away from the tonic and isn’t diatonically in the key. That creates a bright, surprising color, rather than sticking with the same diatonic flow.

In the B phrase of Tea for Two, this move injects a lively, zestful character by introducing a major harmony that sits outside the usual key-centered progression. It isn’t a full modulation to a distant key, and it isn’t simply repeating the same chords; it’s that quick, bold color shift that livens the song and then can quickly return to the original tonal center.