If D major were a person, who would she be?

Here's how the Signature Series works:

1. Select a musical key.
2. Gather together the most famous melodies composed in that key over the centuries.
3. Mash up.
4. Meet the person behind the key.

To get to know D major, click on the orange play button.

Follow along with the pop-up comments to find out what composition is playing.

 

D major: Miss Congeniality

Also known as:
The Workaholic.
The Homecoming Queen.

D majors you might know:
The Goddess Athena from Greek mythology.
Oprah Winfrey.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

The notes: D - E - F♯ - G - A - B - C♯ - D.

Number of sharps: two.

Relative minor: B minor.

What they said about D major in the 18th century:
"The key of triumph, of Hallelujahs, of war-cries, of victory-rejoicing." – Christian Schubart, 1784

"Enflames the heart. The spirit ... is roused to impudent, joyful, even to somewhat boisterous songs of praise. Even the god of thunder has a claim to this key." - Georg Joseph Vogler, 1779

More D major listening:
The Blue Danube by Johann Strauss, Jr.

Waltz of the Flowers from The Nutcracker by Tchaikovsky.

The Canadian connection:

PLAY

 "Past in Present" by Feist.

 

 

Editor's note: Historical quotes and translations from A History of Key Characteristics in the 18th and Early 19th Centuries, by Rita Steblin, UMI Research Press (1983).

Related:

The Signature Series

D major [Wikipedia]

Matt Haimovitz performs J.S. Bach's Suite for Solo Cello no. 6 in D Major

 

posted by Paolo Pietropaolo on Jun 28, 2012