Major or Minor

[Spatula]

I'm finding that the majority of "likeable" classical music is usually in the minor key...

Many of the concertos I listen to are minor, and the sonatas, and the scherzos, and the etc etc etc...

Hmmm I wonder if this is the minor phenomenon.  

[Daevren]

The minor key has naturally more colour to it.

[dinosaurtales]

I am with you, although it's probably a matter of personal taste.  I think the minor scales have more color - partly because there are several variations, with the harmonic, natural, and melodic varieties to use.  It's sort of weird, because Mozart , for all the music he wrote, used minor keys very little.  I can't remember how many pieces were written in minor keys, but I think there are less than 10!  Anybody happen to know about this?

[rlefebvr]

Problably did not know the black things were notes.



Hush my puppies...I am so funny....not...this is what happens when my wife leaves for the weekend.

[Spatula]

Problably did not know the black things were notes.



Hush my puppies...I am so funny....not...this is what happens when my wife leaves for the weekend.

ummm so you have sausage parties?  :-/

[donjuan]

I think the most likeable music is an effectively crafted composition of majors and minors.  I especially love the augmented chord, when used with the major chord of the same key, like in Sonetto 104 del Petrarca.  It is so desperate, so passionate..

[Spatula]

Kinda reminds me of 18th variation Paganini

[Tash]

no major keys are for me. i came to that conclusion this year when i was playing 3 pieces in minor keys and 1 in major and i loved the major one much better. and the pieces i love in general are major- i like to be happy:)

[donjuan]

no major keys are for me. i came to that conclusion this year when i was playing 3 pieces in minor keys and 1 in major and i loved the major one much better. and the pieces i love in general are major- i like to be happy:)

The second part of your statement contradicts the first.
If you like major keys so much, why are none of them for you?
donjuan

[dj]

The second part of your statement contradicts the first.
If you like major keys so much, why are none of them for you?
donjuan

perhaps there should be a comma between "no" and "Major"

i think that most good music moves between major and minor keys so much that the original key signature isn't of much significance.

[Spatula]

I'm watching cast away with tom hanks...now that movie should have a minor key soundtrack  

By the way, I don't watch TV much (cause of the internet), but hey isn't that Steve (danny masterson) on 70s show related to Francis (chris masterson) on malcolm in the middle? Brothers? hello....


If this is like super dense stuff...then forgive me  

because the only thing I use TV for is my PS2..when I have time...or the weather network.

[Tash]

perhaps there should be a comma between "no" and "Major"

i think that most good music moves between major and minor keys so much that the original key signature isn't of much significance.

oh yeah sorry the 'no' was there as in me disagreeing with those who prefer minor keys. the major keys are for me!!!

[donjuan]

I'm watching cast away with tom hanks...now that movie should have a minor key soundtrack  

I was SO sad when he lost Wilson!  I have no clue why.. but it took everything to stop myself from crying when he was yelling "I'm sorry!  Wilson, come back!" I dont know why these things affect me so..
donjuan

[allchopin]

The reason the majority of your favorites are in minor is because of simple mathematical proportion - the majority of classical music is in minor keys, whereas the majority of modern popular music is in major.  I guess this kills two bird with one stone, why noone seems to lie modern music because it is generally major!

[janice]

I was SO sad when he lost Wilson!  I have no clue why.. but it took everything to stop myself from crying when he was yelling "I'm sorry!  Wilson, come back!" I dont know why these things affect me so..
donjuan

I was SO sad also!!!!  I wanted to cry also!!

<hands Donjuan a box of kleenex>

[Spatula]

For super strange reason, I tried myself to tears when I watched the Truman Show with Jim Carrey, and when he tried to escape and was on that sail boat.  Yeah when the ship hit the end of that dome of the movie set, it was so sad...

[Sketchee]

By the way, I don't watch TV much (cause of the internet), but hey isn't that Steve (danny masterson) on 70s show related to Francis (chris masterson) on malcolm in the middle? Brothers? hello....

Yes they're brothers.  I prefer Chris.  He's the pretty one.

Wait what

[janice]

ok, we got off the original subject.  Sorry!

[xenon]

I was also particularily moved by the loss of Wilson too.  Very emotional.

I tend to prefer the minor keys.  It just expresses my emotions better.  I also perform minor-key pieces with greater sensitivity and musicality.  I feel that major key pieces are just not me.  I had a hard time with one Beethoven Sonata (op 14 no 2 IIRC) because it sounded too happy-go-lucky.  Also, major-key (odd-numbered ) Preludes and Fugues by Bach are harder for me to play.  I much prefer the minor ones.  

I am currently learning Beethoven's Sonata Op 109 mvt 2, and it just profoundly speaks to me!

[Nightscape]

I don't think that either type is better... they are both very beautiful when used expressively.  A piece is especially effective when it can use both well together.
Like the Rachmaninoff concertos (2,3) which are generally minor, but during the high points, it shifts to major (like the climax of the Rach 3 cadenza, and the ends of both concertos).  Even Bach used this kind of thing, as many of his minor pieces end with a major chord (picardy third).

I wonder why so many classical musicians love minor keys?  There's probably some kind of physcological reason... wanting to indentify oneself with music that is painful, tragic, or angy.  But you shouldn't bask in a pool of misery forever!

[Daevren]

Minor doesn't equal misery.

[sharon_f]

Minor doesn't equal misery.

I agree. In fact some music in minor keys can almost be considered "cheery." The C minor fugue from WTC I is very upbeat. Chopn's Waltz in E minor Op. Posthumus is another example. How about the finale of the Beethoven 3rd piano concerto? While not exactly cheery, I wouldn't consider it painful, angry or tragic.

Any other examples of music in a minor key that aren't, for want of a better term, "dark" or "tragic" or "melancholy?"

[donjuan]

dont forget the diabolical music, with it's diminished and augmented chords.--> not necessarily misery, but a feeling of inevitability
donjuan

[Spatula]

I agree. In fact some music in minor keys can almost be considered "cheery." The C minor fugue from WTC I is very upbeat. Chopn's Waltz in E minor Op. Posthumus is another example. How about the finale of the Beethoven 3rd piano concerto? While not exactly cheery, I wouldn't consider it painful, angry or tragic.

Any other examples of music in a minor key that aren't, for want of a better term, "dark" or "tragic" or "melancholy?"

Oh Oh ... Chopin Sonata Nr 1 and 3 ...both 4th movement are really upbeat and fun.