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Topic: Key changes in Un Sospiro (Read 3545 times)

threepwood

PS Silver Member
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Posts: 12

Hello everyone,
I'm trying to analyze the key changes in Listz's Un Sospiro, but I find it a bit challenging. A swift google search doesn't seem to give me any convincing answers, so I was wondering if there's anyone here who really knows music theory and the piece? This is my own attempt:

Starts in Db major, and then:
Shift to A major (around 1:10)
Shift to F minor (around 1:45)
Shift to F major (around 2:00)
Shift to E major (around 2:15)
Back to Db major (around 3:40)

Thanks,

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lelle

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Posts: 2513

Re: Key changes in Un Sospiro

Reply #1 on: December 30, 2024, 09:33:27 PM

I overall agree with your analysis, but I'd switch E major with C sharp minor, since he is hovering around its dominant chord (G sharp major) a lot, among many reasons. What's making you doubt your analysis?

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threepwood

PS Silver Member
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Posts: 12

Re: Key changes in Un Sospiro

Reply #2 on: December 31, 2024, 12:17:44 AM

Hey lelle, thanks for your input.
I can see that you're probably right about the C# minor part. I just felt a bit unsure about the F minor part, and then there's the part around 3:00 with the F7-Am/E-D chord progression, where it also sounds to me like it's changing key for a second. But maybe I should just ignore that.

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lelle

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Posts: 2513

Re: Key changes in Un Sospiro

Reply #3 on: December 31, 2024, 12:30:37 AM

Quote from: threepwood on December 31, 2024, 12:17:44 AM

I just felt a bit unsure about the F minor part

What makes you unsure? Asking in the interest of challenging your brain

I see a pretty neat modulation from A major to F minor, ending with a D64-53 cadence, but then he launches into the F major section basically like a Picardy third.

Quote from: threepwood on December 31, 2024, 12:17:44 AM

then there's the part around 3:00 with the F7-Am/E-D chord progression, where it also sounds to me like it's changing key for a second. But maybe I should just ignore that.

He does some cool harmonic progressions that basically lead back to where he started occasionally. Could you maybe post a screenshot of the passage just so I can be sure what you are talking about? The recordings I'm referencing have different timings than yours

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threepwood

PS Silver Member
Newbie
Posts: 12

Re: Key changes in Un Sospiro

Reply #4 on: December 31, 2024, 01:59:51 AM

Quote

What makes you unsure? Asking in the interest of challenging your brain I see a pretty neat modulation from A major to F minor, ending with a D64-53 cadence, but then he launches into the F major section basically like a Picardy third.

Okay, so, how I decide this, is basically by determining the key for which it sounds natural for the piece to end on (which might be a total newb approach compared to you). So in the F minor part I was a bit unsure, because it could just as well end on F major there, but I ended up going with F minor because there is an F minor there in that part.

Quote

He does some cool harmonic progressions that basically lead back to where he started occasionally. Could you maybe post a screenshot of the passage just so I can be sure what you are talking about? The recordings I'm referencing have different timings than yours

2:24 in this version: https://www. youtube.com/watch?v=Pq-y9KGqssc

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lelle

PS Gold Member
Sr. Member
Posts: 2513

Re: Key changes in Un Sospiro

Reply #5 on: January 07, 2025, 07:57:14 PM

I would get familiar with what the Tonic, Dominant and Subdominant is, and how they typically are used in classical music. There are a couple of very common chord sequences (cadences) that, once you are familiar with them, can help you identify the current tonal centre in a large quantity of pieces and passages.

There is of course more to it but that's a good start.

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