C-sharp major: Difference between revisions

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| relative=[[A-sharp minor]]

| parallel=[[C-sharp minor]]

| dominant=[[G-sharp major]]&nbsp; (theoretical)<br />→enharmonic→[[Enharmonic key|enharmonic]] : [[A-flat major]]

| subdominant=[[F-sharp major]]<br>→enharmonic [[G flat major]]

| enharmonic=[[D-flat major]]

| first_pitch=C{{music|sharp}}

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| seventh_pitch=B{{music|sharp}}

}}

'''C-sharp major''' (or the '''key of C-sharp''') is a [[major scale]] based on [[C♯ (musical note)|C{{music|sharp}}]], consisting of the pitches C{{music|sharp}}, [[D♯ (musical note)|D{{music|sharp}}]], [[E♯ (musical note)|E{{music|sharp}}]], [[F♯ (musical note)|F{{music|sharp}}]], [[G♯ (musical note)|G{{music|sharp}}]], [[A♯ (musical note)|A{{music|sharp}}]], and [[C (musical note)|B{{music|sharp}}]]. It is [[Enharmonic|enharmonically equivalent]] to [[D-flat major]]. Its [[key signature]] has seven [[Sharp (music)|sharps]]. Its [[relative key|relative minor]] is [[A-sharp minor]] (or [[Enharmonic|enharmonically]] [[B-flat minor]]) and, its [[parallel key|parallel minor]] is [[C-sharp minor]], and its [[enharmonic equivalence|enharmonic equivalent]] is [[D-flat major]].

The C-sharp major scale is:

:{{block indent|<score sound="1"> {raw>

\header { tagline = ##f }

\omit Score.TimeSignature \relative c' {

scale = \relative b { \key cis \major \omit Score.TimeSignature

\key cis \major \time 7/4 cis dis eis fis gis ais bis cis bis ais gis fis eis dis cis2

cis^"C♯ natural major scale" dis eis fis gis ais bis cis bis ais gis fis eis dis cis2 \clef F \key cis \major }

\score { { << \cadenzaOn \scale \context NoteNames \scale >> } \layout { } \midi { } }

} }

</score>}}

Changes needed for the melodic and harmonic versions of the scale are written in with accidentals as necessary. The C-sharp [[Harmonic major scale|harmonic major]] and [[Melodic major scale|melodic major scales]] are:

{{block indent|<score sound raw>

\header { tagline = ##f }

scale = \relative b { \key cis \major \omit Score.TimeSignature

\key cis^"C♯ harmonic \major \time 7/4 cisscale" dis eis fis gis aisa bis cis bis aisa gis fis eis dis cis2 }

\score { { << \cadenzaOn \scale \context NoteNames \scale >> } \layout { } \midi { } }

</score>}}

{{block indent|<score sound raw>

\header { tagline = ##f }

scale = \relative b { \key cis \major \omit Score.TimeSignature

cis^"C♯ melodic major scale (ascending and descending)" dis eis fis gis ais bis cis b a gis fis eis dis cis2 }

\score { { << \cadenzaOn \scale \context NoteNames \scale >> } \layout { } \midi { } }

</score>}}

A [[harp]] tuned to C-sharp major has all its pedals in the bottom position. Because all the strings are then pinched and shortened, this is the least resonant key for the instrument.

== Scale degree chords ==

*The [[Tonicscale (music)|'''Tonic'''degree]] -chords of C-sharp major are:

* '''[[SupertonicTonic (music)|Tonic]]''' -– [[DC-sharp minor]]major

* '''[[MediantSupertonic]]''' -– [[ED-sharp minor]]

* '''[[SubdominantMediant]]''' -– [[FE-sharp majorminor]]

* [[Dominant (music)|'''Dominant'''Subdominant]] -– [[GF-sharp major]]

* '''[[SubmediantDominant (music)|Dominant]]''' -– [[AG-sharp minormajor]]

* '''[[Leading-toneSubmediant]]''' -– [[Diminished triad|BA-sharp diminishedminor]]

* [[Leading-tone]] – [[Diminished triad|B-sharp diminished]]

==Compositions==

Most composers prefer to use the [[enharmonic]] equivalent [[D-flat major]] since it contains five flats as opposed to C-sharp major's seven sharps. However, [[Johann Sebastian Bach]] chose C-sharp major for Prelude and Fugue No. 3 in both books of ''[[The Well-Tempered Clavier]]''. In [[Hungarian Rhapsody No. 6]], [[Franz Liszt]] takes the unusual step of changing the key from [[D-flat major]] to C-sharp major near the start of the piece, and then back again to B-flat minor. [[Maurice Ravel]] selected C-sharp major as the tonic key of "Ondine" from his piano suite ''[[Gaspard de la nuit]]''. [[Erich Wolfgang Korngold]] composed his [[Piano Concerto for the Left Hand (Korngold)|Piano Concerto for the Left Hand]], Op. 17, in C-sharp major.

The ''[[Allegro de concierto]]'' by Spanish composer [[Enrique Granados]] is written in C-sharp major. Canadian composer and pianist [[Frank Mills]] originally wrote and performed his instrumental hit "[[Music Box Dancer]]" in C-sharp major; however, most modern piano editions have the piece written in [[C major]].

[[Louis Vierne]] used C-sharp major for the "Dona nobis pacem" of the Agnus Dei of his ''[[Messe solennelle (Vierne)|Messe solennelle]]'' in [[C-sharp minor]].

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==References==

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==Further reading==

* {{cite journal|last=Lester|first=Joel|title=The Recognition of Major and Minor Keys in German Theory: 1680–1730|journal=[[Journal of Music Theory]]|publisher=[[Duke University Press]]|volume=22|number=1|date=Spring 1978|pages=65–103|doi=10.2307/843628|jstor=843628|ref=none}}

==External links==