The Mellotron Group

check this out:


From Christian Schubart's Ideen zu einer Aesthetik der Tonkunst (1806)translated by Rita Steblin in A History of Key Characteristics in the 18thand Early 19th Centuries. UMI Research Press (1983).  

  
    
C major
    
 Completely pure. Its character      is: innocence, simplicity, naïvety, children's talk. 
  
  
    
 C minor
    
 Declaration of love and at the      same time the lament of unhappy love. All languishing, longing, sighing of      the love-sick soul lies in this key. 
  
  
    
 Db major
    
 A leering key, degenerating into      grief and rapture. It cannot laugh, but it can smile; it cannot howl, but      it can at least grimace its crying.--Consequently only unusual characters      and feelings can be brought out in this key. 
  
  
    
 D major
    
 The key of triumph, of Hallejuahs,      of war-cries, of victory-rejoicing. Thus, the inviting symphonies, the marches,      holiday songs and heaven-rejoicing choruses are set in this key. 
  
  
    
 D minor
    
 Melancholy womanliness, the spleen      and humours brood. 
  
  
    
 D# minor
    
 Feelings of the anxiety of the      soul's deepest distress, of brooding despair, of blackest depresssion, of      the most gloomy condition of the soul. Every fear, every hesitation of the      shuddering heart, breathes out of horrible D# minor. If ghosts could speak,      their speech would approximate this key. 
  
  
    
 Eb major
    
 The key of love, of devotion,      of intimate conversation with God. 
  
  
    
 E major
    
 Noisy shouts of joy, laughing      pleasure and not yet complete, full delight lies in E Major. 
  
  
    
 F major
    
 Complaisance & calm. 
  
  
    
 F minor
    
 Deep depression, funereal lament,      groans of misery and longing for the grave. 
  
  
    
 F# major
    
 Triumph over difficulty, free      sigh of relief utered when hurdles are surmounted; echo of a soul which has      fiercely struggled and finally conquered lies in all uses of this key. 
  
  
    
 F# minor
    
 A gloomy key: it tugs at passion      as a dog biting a dress. Resentment and discontent are its language. 
  
  
    
 G major 
    
 Everything rustic, idyllic and      lyrical, every calm and satisfied passion, every tender gratitude for true      friendship and faithful love,--in a word every gentle and peaceful emotion      of the heart is correctly expressed by this key. 
  
  
    
 G minor 
    
 Discontent, uneasiness, worry      about a failed scheme; bad-tempered gnashing of teeth; in a word: resentment      and dislike. 
  
  
    
 Ab major 
    
 Key of the grave. Death, grave,      putrefaction, judgment, eternity lie in its radius. 
  
  
    
 Ab minor 
    
 Grumbler, heart squeezed until      it suffocates; wailing lament, difficult struggle; in a word, the color of      this key is everything struggling with difficulty. 
  
  
    
 A major 
    
 This key includes declarations      of innocent love, satisfaction with one's state of affairs; hope of seeing      one's beloved again when parting; youthful cheerfulness and trust in God.      
  
  
    
 A minor 
    
 Pious womanliness and tenderness      of character. 
  
  
    
 Bb major 
    
 Cheerful love, clear conscience,      hope aspiration for a better world. 
  
  
    
 Bb minor
    
 A quaint creature, often dressed      in the garment of night. It is somewhat surly and very seldom takes on a      pleasant countenance. Mocking God and the world; discontented with itself      and with everything; preparation for suicide sounds in this key. 
  
  
    
 B major 
    
 Strongly coloured, announcing      wild passions, composed from the most glaring coulors. Anger, rage, jealousy,      fury, despair and every burden of the heart lies in its sphere. 
  
  
    
B minor 
    
 This is as it were the key of      patience, of calm awaiting ones's fate and of submission to divine dispensation.      
  


  




fritz

 


 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: ClayE <ecclesreinson@rogers.com>
To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Tue, Apr 20, 2010 6:33 pm
Subject:  [newmellotrongroup] A, B, Cò, D, E, Fò, Gò, A


  
    
                  
Why is it that a tune played in A major can sound right but the same tune played in G major sounds sad and gloomy?  'A major' seems to work well with mellotron strings and Oboe.  Don't know why.

Find file 'A Major Atlantic.mp3' here:
http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/newmellotrongroup/files/