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

[Dave Headlam]

Hi.  Not exactly in the major mode, but nothing sadder than that big old C
major triad when Wozzeck gives his hard-earned pay to Marie in Berg¹s opera
‹ Act I, sc ii. Mm. 116-123 -- (mmmm, 123!)  after noticing her earrings,
which she got from the Drum Major, but which she claims she found . . .

Dave Headlam


On 10/1/09 12:45 PM, "Randolph Johnson" <randolph.johnson at gmail.com> wrote:

> 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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> rg


-- 

 Dave Headlam
 Professor of Music Theory
 Joint Professor of Electrical Engineering
 
 Eastman School of Music
 26 Gibbs St
 Rochester, NY 14604
 (585) 274-1568 office
 dheadlam at esm.rochester.edu
 http://theory.esm.rochester.edu/dave_headlam


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