source file: mills2.txt Date: Thu, 29 May 1997 00:55:23 +0200 Subject: modes vs keys (was: JI modes) From: "Collins, Gordon" Daniel Wolf wrote: >Gordon Collins wrote: > >'' A key is not just a set of notes - it is > >determined by chordal structure rather than melodic formulae. '' > >No, a key is a set of 7 pitches in a (at least nominal) series consecutiv>e >of fifths, octave equivalence assumed, and auxillary accidentals allowed.> >This contributes the pitch height component of the identification of a mo>de >of a piece. Our terminology for this is not so transparent, in that >traditionally the tonic is named verbally and the set of pitches identifi>ed >by the key signature. Thus the key with two flats gives Bb Major, g minor> >(with or without auxillaries - a look at Baroque minor key signatures is >instructive), c dorian, d phrygian etc.. Well, now. My statement above was taken almost verbatim from Grove's Dictionary of Music, which also points out the difference between the Ionian mode and the key of C Major. This also agrees with everything else I have read on the subject. You evidently have developed your own definition of "key" - more power to you, but without common terminology no discussion is possible. Gordon Collins From: SMTP%"tuning@eartha.mills.edu" 29-MAY-1997 01:05:51.55 To: manuel.op.de.coul@ezh.nl CC: Subj: Re: Modes Received: from ns.ezh.nl [137.174.112.59] by vbv40.ezh.nl with SMTP-OpenVMS via TCP/IP; Thu, 29 May 1997 01:05 +0200 Received: by ns.ezh.nl; (5.65v3.2/1.3/10May95) id AA03265; Thu, 29 May 1997 01:05:48 +0200 Date: Thu, 29 May 1997 01:05:48 +0200 Received: from ella.mills.edu by ns (smtpxd); id XA03263 Received: (qmail 4153 invoked from network); 28 May 1997 23:05:45 -0000 Received: from localhost (HELO ella.mills.edu) (127.0.0.1) by localhost with SMTP; 28 May 1997 23:05:45 -0000 Message-Id: <2.2.32.19970528230314.0090e624@helinet.com> Errors-To: madole@mills.edu Reply-To: tuning@eartha.mills.edu Originator: tuning@eartha.mills.edu Sender: tuning@eartha.mills.edu