A maybe idiotic question about keys

[quasimodo]

What is the difference between the tonalities of C# and Db (apart from writing considerations) ? I'm talking about piano here...

[phil13]

Not really idiotic.

On the keyboard, if you had no music in front of you, you would not be able to tell the difference between a piece in C# and one in Db. They are the same notes, but spelled differently on a page

When I look at the score, however, the sharps look more menacing than the flats. This, for some odd reason, triggers a different feeling than if I were to see the flats.

Incidentally, there IS a difference in them when you are talking abut other instruments, i.e. strings, woodwinds, that are not tuned to equal temprament.

Also incidentally, I have never come across a piece in C# major that did not look and feel agitated.

Phil

Phil

[prometheus]

The difference is the number of flats or sharps used.

[timothy42b]

The difference is the number of flats or sharps used.

Yes, the Germans like to write in flats (I've seen 8 in the key signature) and the French in sharps.

Dunno why. 

[prometheus]

Less flats are needed. So that should be preferable.

Unless you modulate into it using F# major, of course.

[phil13]

Less flats are needed. So that should be preferable.

Unless you modulate into it using F# major, of course.

So which is more preferable of D# or Eb minor? Each has 6 accidentals.

Phil

[franz_]

So which is more preferable of D# or Eb minor? Each has 6 accidentals.

Phil

I prefer Eb 

[prometheus]

(I had to rewrite my post since I though you were talking about D# major and Eb minor. Therefore my example used F# major and Gb major. This is because I though you made a mistake and in reality meant this.)

If its the actual key, and not a temporary key in a modulating piece, then of course there is little difference between the two. But naturally we want to modulate up a fifth to the dominant. And that would mean adding a flat or removing a sharp. The latter scenario requires the least amount of accidentals and is thus preferable from this perspective. On the other hand, we naturally see an added accidental when a key modulated to the dominant. So from this perspective one may argue going from Gb to Cb. Using F# to B major would be like going backward.