Klarinet Archive - Posting 000258.txt from 2003/06

From: Dan Leeson <leeson0@-----.net>
Subj: [kl] Keys and their character
Date: Tue, 10 Jun 2003 10:20:32 -0400

The idea that each key had its own personality (with A and E being
bright) and D-flat, G-flat being serious (or whatever), is another
romantic assertion that doesn't have a leg to stand on. There has never
been anything put forward (other than opinion) that would allow any
thinking person to believe such nonsense.

It is true that, prior to the days of the tempered scale, keys did have
specific characteristics because untempered tuning produced some weird
situations, particularly with keyboard instruments, but the idea that E
major (for example) is a key that produces brighter music (whatever the
hell that means) than C major is something that was believed and spoken
of in Victorian ballrooms, and had about as much sense as their sex
practices.

It is nothing more than another impossibly silly idea on top of the
10,000 silly ideas we have about music, playing it, composing for it,
and speaking about it, falling into the same category of blow out, dark
sounds, how to find the best piece, and which instrument is inherently
superior.

And for Anne Lenoir waking up in Colorado, I am sorry that my inquiry
about what was so bright about E major caused you morning distress.
--
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**Dan Leeson **
**leeson0@-----.net **
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