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Minor keys are like spice and alcohol?

Only to be enjoyed by adults as they have a slight edge.

I think about some of my all time favourite pieces new(ish) and very old. All the ones I come back to may even be written in a major key, but the angst, pain, edge, realness (sorry for using such a terrible word, but it worked for Shakespeare) always comes to us via the minor (possibly variation) - usually the minor third or sixth depending if you want to go up or down.

Does it take a little personal pain to "get" this, or just an appreciation of the musical make-up?

I have had one recent track which is (fairly) new bring me to tears which although based in E-Major (guitar based) when pushed ends up in C# minor when they are pressing the emotion buttons. And for such a simple song, it reminds me why I love music so much and how I would like to spend more time with it.
dmurfet

Showing 1 response by onhwy61

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onhwy61
5,137 posts
 
Everybody who's every lived has had some hellhounds on their trail at some time. Expressing that musically is about about the tension between the major and the minor.

As an aside, last night I saw a very fine performance by Sanderling/Toledo Symphony of Mahler's 9th. The fourth movement, which I believe was in a major key, was unbelievably emotional. Check out this man's reaction.
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