C-sharp major: Difference between revisions

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| seventh_pitch=B{{music|sharp}}

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'''C-sharp major''' 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}}]]. Its [[key signature]] has seven [[Sharp (music)|sharps]]. Its [[relative key|relative minor]] is [[A-sharp minor]] (or [[Enharmonic|enharmonically]] [[B-flat minor]]), 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:

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\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 \clef F \key cis \major }

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

</score>}}

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\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 \clef F \key cis \major }

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

</score>}}

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==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]].

In [[Tuning system|tuning systems]] where the number of notes per octave is not a multiple of 12, notes such as C{{music|#}} and D{{music|b}} are not [[enharmonically equivalent]], nor are the corresponding key signatures. For example, the key of C-sharp major, with seven sharps, is equivalent to [[D-flat major]] in 12-tone equal temperament, but in [[19 equal temperament|19-tone equal temperament]], it is equivalent to [[D-double-flat major]] instead, with 12 flats. Therefore, C-sharp major with 7 sharps, which has been rarely used in the existing 12-tone temperament, may be absolutely necessary.

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==References==

{{Reflist}}

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==Usage==

This key is used for the DVD version of the [[THX]] Broadway trailer (most notably the Digitally Mastered variant), it was also used for some of the other THX trailers, namely Tex, Ziegfeld, Tex 3 Action and Tex vs. the Robot.

Is THX relevant to the C-sharp major Wikipedia page or is it off-topic?

==Further reading==