C-sharp major: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Musical scale and key signature}}

{{Infobox Scale

{{No footnotes|date=April 2024}}

| image_name=C-sharp_Major_key_signature.png

{{Infobox Scalemusical scale

| scale_name=C{{music|sharp}} major

| name=C-sharp major<score>{ \magnifyStaff #3/2 \omit Score.TimeSignature \key cis \major s16 \clef F \key cis \major s^"" }</score>

| relative=[[A-sharp minor]]

| parallelrelative=[[DA-flatsharp majorminor]]

| first_pitchparallel=[[C{{music|-sharp}} minor]]

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

| second_pitch=D{{music|sharp}}

| third_pitchsubdominant=E{{music|[[F-sharp}} major]]

| enharmonic=[[D-flat major]]

| fourth_pitch=F{{music|sharp}}

| fifth_pitchfirst_pitch=GC{{music|sharp}}

| sixth_pitchsecond_pitch=AD{{music|sharp}}

| seventh_pitchthird_pitch=BE{{music|sharp}}

| second_pitchfourth_pitch=DF{{music|sharp}}

| scale_namefifth_pitch=CG{{music|sharp}} major

| fourth_pitchsixth_pitch=FA{{music|sharp}}

| seventh_pitch=B{{music|sharp}}

}}

'''C{{music|sharp}} major''' (or '''C-sharp major''') is a [[major scale]] based on '''[[C♯ (musical note)|C{{music|sharp}}''']], consisting of the pitches [[C♯ (musical note)|C{{music|sharp}}]], [[D♯ (musical note)|D{{music|sharp}}]], [[FE♯ (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}}]]. Its [[key signature]] has seven [[Sharp (music)|sharps]]. Its [[relative key|relative minor]] is [[A-sharp minor]] (''seeor below:''[[Enharmonic|enharmonically]] [[#ScalesB-flat andminor]]), keysits [[parallel key|Scalesparallel minor]] is [[C-sharp minor]], and keysits [[enharmonic equivalence|enharmonic equivalent]] is [[D-flat major]]).

{{dablink|This article is about the musical scale. For the programming language, see [[C Sharp (programming language)]]}}

: ''Also see: [[C-sharp minor]], or [[C major]].'' <!--hat note-->

The C-sharp major scale is:

'''C{{music|sharp}} major''' (or '''C-sharp major''') is a [[major scale]] based on '''C{{music|sharp}}''', consisting of the pitches [[C♯ (musical note)|C{{music|sharp}}]], [[D♯ (musical note)|D{{music|sharp}}]], [[F (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}}]]. Its [[key signature]] has seven sharps (''see below:'' [[#Scales and keys|Scales and keys]]).

{{block indent|<score sound raw>

Its [[relative key|relative minor]] is [[A-sharp minor]], and its [[parallel key|parallel minor]] is [[C-sharp minor]]. Its enharmonic equivalent is [[D-flat major]].

\header { tagline = ##f }

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

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

cis^"C♯ harmonic major scale" dis eis fis gis a bis cis bis a 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.

[[Image:C-sharp Major Scale.PNG |thumb|330px| Ascending and descending '''C-sharp major''' scale.]]

== Scale degree chords ==

Although most composers prefer to use the enharmonic equivalent D-flat major because it has just five flats as opposed to the seven sharps of C-sharp major, [[Johann Sebastian Bach]] actually chose C-sharp major for Prelude and Fugue No. 3 in both books of the ''[[Well-Tempered Clavier]]''. In [[Hungarian Rhapsodies|Hungarian Rhapsody No. 6]], [[Franz Liszt]] actually changes key from D-flat major to C-sharp major near the beginning of the piece. [[Maurice Ravel]] selected C-sharp major as the tonic key of ''Ondine'' from his piano suite ''[[Gaspard de la nuit]]''.

The [[scale degree]] chords of C-sharp major are:

* [[Tonic (music)|Tonic]] – C-sharp major

* [[Supertonic]] – [[D-sharp minor]]

|* [[Mediant]] – relative=[[AE-sharp minor]]

* [[Subdominant]] – [[F-sharp major]]

* [[Dominant (music)|Dominant]] – [[G-sharp major]]

* [[Submediant]] – [[A-sharp minor]]

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

==Compositions==

Although mostMost composers prefer to use the [[enharmonic]] equivalent [[D-flat major]] becausesince it has justcontains five flats as opposed to theC-sharp major's seven sharps. of C-sharp majorHowever, [[Johann Sebastian Bach]] actually chose C-sharp major for Prelude and Fugue No. 3 in both books of the ''[[The Well-Tempered Clavier]]''. In [[Hungarian Rhapsodies|Hungarian Rhapsody No. 6]], [[Franz Liszt]] actuallytakes changesthe unusual step of changing the key from [[D-flat major]] to C-sharp major near the beginningstart 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]].

<!--

==References==

{{Reflist}}

-->

==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==

* [http://www.cisdur.de/e_indexe_cisdur.html OverviewList of Compositionscompositions within 7C-sharp Accidentalsmajor]

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[[Category:Musical keys]]

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