[Smt-talk] Pieces contrary to the minor/major = sad/non-sad stereotype

Randolph Johnson randolph.johnson at gmail.com
Thu Oct 1 09:45:45 PDT 2009


I'm interested in identifying pieces that are contrary to the
minor = sad stereotype.  For example, no one would consider
Mozart's "Rondo Alla Turca" to be "sad" even though it is
(mostly) in the minor mode.  At the same time, the aria
"He Was Despised" in Handel's Messiah is very sad, but
in the major mode.

Any suggestions about other works that go contrary to
the stereotype? I'm especially interested in nominally "sad" works
in the major mode and "non-sad" works in the minor mode.

Thanks for your suggestions.

Randolph Johnson
randolph.johnson at gmail.com
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