Key Signatures
and
Characters
from Christian
Schubart's Ideen zu einer Aesthetik der Tonkhunst (1806)
Translated by
Rita Steblin in A History of Key Characteristics in the 18th
and early 19th centuries. UMI Research
Press (1983) Adapted by Lejend 2014 – Also notes from the BBC
Signature Series by Pailo Pietropaolo. An absolute must to listen to
simply breathtaking. Despite being a G Major or am I to dim to know
better.
C C# D D# E F
F# G G# A A# B
C was born to
make B sad...........if you take a backward step into the past, sad
is where you might find yourself. Unless you have fabulous memories
sad brings you down but even living in the past holds you back no
matter how good the memory. Look sharp and to the future and your not
living in the now. C should be happy to be C not saddened and moving
in B or living in the future and looking to C#. No C is good enough
just as it is. Be your true self. Major and minor and their
contrasting moods.
C
Major – Completely pure all white piano keys, a
character which is innocent, simple, naïve and child like. Easy
learning. Natural no sharps, no flats. Seven notes the 8th
being the first one octave higher. Also Associated with Aries
and the head. 12 variations on a theme so a high count. The Minor
here is A Minor. Which is associated with Capricorn and the Skeleton.
C is denoted as
sea and air...The Feng Shui of the Musical World. Innocence that
captures the heart, can find happiness in everything, curious,
touches everything to see what it feels like, sensuous, a brand new
day, no boundaries, skips happily, not self conscious, bossy, when she wants something she asks for it and thinks of nothing else till she
gets it, just for the joy of being alive she sings, happy in praise,
questions everything, why, she learns and then tells you something
that will take you by surprise, keeps on trying, when they figure
things out it is like the sunshine itself.
No judgement in
their heart, they are flawed too, they are a part of all of us. The
Inner child.
Both share the
following codons:
TCC – TTC –
TCA – TTA – TAC – TAA – GCC – GTC – GCA – GTA
GAC – GAA
2/3 – 2/7 –
8/3 – 8/7 – 1/3 – 4/3 – 3/3 – 3/7 – 9/3 – 9/7 – 7/3 –
6/3
A
Minor – Pious womanliness and tenderness of character.
Devoutly religious feminine. Devout, spiritual, saintly righteous.
Also associated with Capricorn and the Skeleton. 12 Variations on a
theme so a high count. The Major here is C Major associated with
Aries and the Head.
The Faded
Beauty, conflicted, torn, oh but if you could have seen me then, she
sits alone with dusty mementoes of the years gone by, bitter
memories, all she has now is regret but cannot accept the best has
passed her by, she will keep trying, faded beauty can be beautiful,
if it behaves well, she had the looks, the charm, the passion, the
talent, all her dreams just within reach, but she never made it, she
sits at the window watching the world go by, she sheds a tear for
that beautiful young girl, she was reckless, she had to be the life
of the party, she tried too hard, alluring as she was, you knew you
couldn't rely on A Minor, hence she is here unfulfilled, alone, she
is too fiery not to rage against the dying of the light, craves
attention, so she sits on her faded velvet sofa putting on her make
up thinking of what might have been, your still drawn to her aren't
you, beneath that patina lies a young beauty and it still shines
through.
E
Major – Noisy shouts of joy, laughing, pleasure not yet
complete, full delight lies in E Major. Also associated with Leo and
the Heart. 12 variations on a theme so a high count. The Minor here
is C# Minor. Associated with Taurus and the Neck.
Both share the
following codons:
CCC – CCT –
CTC – CTT – CCA – CTA – CAC – CAT – CGC – CGT
CAA – CGA
2/2 – 2/8 –
2/1 – 2/4 – 8/2 – 8/1 – 1/2 – 1/8 – 1/1 – 1/4 – 4/2 –
4/1
Prince
Charming, optimist, morning person, happy, finds joy in the simplest
things, that bird singing out at the top of the tree, lively,
handsome, firm hand shake, a gentleman, your faithful companion,
noble heart, child like at heart, angelic, pure of heart, holds your
hand and places his trust in you, thoughtful, sweet, big bright eyes,
brings out the protective in you, almost too good for this world, but
the world needs him his nature makes the world better, a good man, a
romantic hero, wants to make the world a better place, spring in his
step, if anyone can save the world it will be E Major, he will lead,
he will ride off with you into the sunset. Your knight in shining
armour.
C#
Minor
– seeking reconciliation with God, holding intimate conversations
with God, friend or help-meet, rescuer or saviour, signs of
disappointed love lie in its radius, a help meet is a partner like
Eve was to Adam, or is it God's salvation you seek, hence the trail
of disappointed friendships. Also associated with Taurus and the
neck. 12 variations on a theme so a high count. The Major here is E
Major. Associated with Leo and the Heart.
The Woman of
Mystery, cashmere scarf around her neck, her apartment a shrine to
her exquisite taste, art abounds, yet it still feels empty, a gallery
of broken dreams, inquisitive, with deep eyes, too deep for someone
so young, spent hours alone reading, escaping into the imagination,
creating worlds she felt she could belong, she never quite fits in,
so she flaunts what makes her unusual, the astrologer perhaps, the
occult, designing strikingly, she dazzles you, magnetic personality,
her boldness, her defiance of authority, but an arrogance in the
eyes, she can be cruel, so you steer clear, hence she gets to spend
more hours alone in adulthood, others admire her but from a distance,
filled with melancholy, looks into the mirror and removes the mask,
gets into bed, eyes wide open.
D
Major – The Key of triumph – Hallelujahs, war cries,
rejoicing in victory. Thus the symphonies are often Marches, holiday
songs, or rejoicing in Heaven type music. Also associated Gemini and
the nervous system. 7 variations on a theme. The Minor here is B
Minor. Associated with Pisces and the Feet. 7th Heaven
style of the Angels.
Both share the
following codons:
ACC – ATC –
ACA – ATA – AAC – AAA – AGA
3/2 – 3/1 –
9/2 – 9/1 – 7/2 – 6/2 – 6/1
Miss
Congeniality, forward looking, smiling, she will always reach her
goals, joyful by nature, laughs in the face of adversity, leaves
energy in the room, glorious, the key of rejoicing, triumph, so much
energy, straight to the point, she's busy, popular, workaholic, manic
at times but that leads to success, and this is all about success,
rose tinted glasses, so likeable you cant object to her level of
success, enthusiasm, the winner.
B
Minor – Patience, calm, able to await one's fate and submit
to divine dispensation. Also associated with Pisces and the Feet. 7
variations on a theme or 7th Heaven of the fallen Angel.
The Major here is D Major associated with Gemini and the nervous
system.
The Dark
Romantic, the fatalist, poetic about his pessimism, Heaven or Hell,
he is a dreamer, sensual, lover of beauty, grand ambitions, he
forgets himself and allows a glimmer of hope, but his ambitions are
never going to come into being, obstinate, tantrums when he meets the
fate he himself seems to have created, self pity, sigh, yet you cant
help but love him, he encourages pity like a damaged soul, you want
to help him, but what would be the point, stays under his blanket,
becomes invisible and disappears from this cruel world.
A
Major – 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. Associated with
Capricorn and the skeleton. 13 variations on a theme a high count.
The minor here is F# Minor associated with Libra and the Kidneys.
Second highest count.
Both share the
following codons:
TCT – TTT –
TAT – TGT – ACT – ATT – GCT – GTT – AAT – AGC
AGT – GAT –
GGT
2/9 – 2/6 –
1/9 – 1/6 – 3/8 – 3/4 – 3/9 – 3/6 – 7/8 – 7/1 – 7/4 –
7/9 – 7/6
The Will O'the
wist, so simple and sweet, the girl next door, skips through life,
but she is not so easy to pin down, pretty, gorgeous a magnet,
everybody wants A Major and she knows it, spoilt, wants it all, knows
her daydreams will come true, so she is always looking for something
better, something fantastic is just around the corner, but it is
always just out of reach, impatience grows, I want it now, she is
always on the move and being around her for too long can be
exhausting, attention seeking, but you wont be able to hold her
attention for long, will o'the wisp, she is as the clouds, she will
wrap you around her little finger, then break your heart, but you
still want her, you always will, even though you know you cant have
her, how do you solve a problem like A Major.
F#
Minor
– A gloomy key, it tugs at passion as a dog biting a dress,
resentment and discontent are its way of communication. Also
associated with Libra and the kidneys. 13 variations on a theme a
high count. The Major here is A Major associated with Capricorn and
the Skeleton.
The Recluse,
approachable at first, captivating, what comes next, life isn't easy,
his heart has hardened to life, petrified about other people so
pushes them away, enjoys the bleak, spends days watching movies
buried beneath the blankets, brooding, woe is me, the victim of life,
focusses on the details, obsesses over them, finds solace in self
pity, imagined a different life, had hopes, own worst enemy, fare
share of misfortunes, more fragile than the rest of us, never able to
bounce back from a challenge, the simplest things can be difficult,
the will to change has gone, inertia, they say it feels good to be
sad, so don't feel sorry for them. Second highest count.
G
Major – Everything rustic, idyllic and lyrical, every calm
and satisfied passion, every tender gratitude for true friendship and
faithful love, in short a peaceful emotion of the heart correctly
expressed. Also associated with Scorpio and the Sexual Organs. 4
variations on a theme so this one is rare. The minor here is E Minor
associated with Leo and the Heart.
Both share the
following codons:
TGC – TGA –
GGC – GGA
1/7 – 4/7 –
7/7 – 6/7
G Major – The
Trusty Sidekick as in Robin to Batman, friendly neighbour, not that
bright but the nicest you will ever meet, pottering in the garden,
breathes in an air of satisfaction, not afraid to show emotions, will
take the time to do things right, what he lacks in intellect he makes
up for with his persistent optimism, faithful and reliable, always
goes along with your plan and does it with enthusiasm, he will do
crazy things and jump in head first, and he will do it all with a
grin, carefree, water off a ducks back to most things, humble,
uncomplicated in nature, its never about ego, content to enjoy life's
simple pleasures, no room for evil or malice in his world, bad things
do happen though, then he feels betrayed, he feels disappointment in
his fellow humans, he picks himself up, dusts himself off, and
carries on with that goofy golly gee isn't life grand look on his
face, off he goes whistling a happy tune.
E
Minor
– Naive, womanly innocent declaration of love, lament without
grumbling, signs accompanied by few tears, this key speaks of the
imminent hope of resolving in the pure happiness of C Major. Also
associated with Leo and the Heart. 4 variations on a theme so this
one is rare. The Major here is G Major associated with Scorpio and
the Sexual Organs.
The Handsome
Rogue, show off, brags, he is an artist, prima - donna, master of
melodrama, dark shadowy eyes, edge of danger, which is irresistible,
daring, impulsive, passionate, grand theatre in his presence, he
relishes the way you cling to him. Dashing, stylish, agile, fit,
breaker of hearts, lock up your daughters, charmer, trickster, rogue,
he sees it as his destiny, the soul of a poet, writing songs, poetry
about life and love, he needs to break a few hearts to get the
feelings for his poetry, he can't commit it would affect his work,
his flamboyant behaviour ends up as just plain sad, he sees himself
as an artist, to others its just another tale.
B
Major – Strongly coloured, announcing wild passions,
composed from the most glorious of colours. Anger, rage, fury,
jealousy, despair and burdens of the heart lie here. Oh sweet
love..... Also associated with Pisces and the feet. 16 variations on
a theme the highest count of all. The Minor here is G# Minor
associated with Sagittarius and the Liver.
Both share the following
codons:
CCG – CTG –
TCG – TTG – CAG – CGG – TAG – TGG – ACG – ATG
GCG – GTG –
AAG – AGG – GAG – GGG
8/8 – 8/4 –
8/9 – 8/6 – 4/8 – 4/4 – 4/9 – 4/6 – 9/8 – 9/4 – 9/9 –
9/6 – 6/8 – 6/4 – 6/9 – 6/6
B Major – The
Artist, leather bound notebook and pen, eyelids half closed,
somewhere far away, he is imagining his next creation, already taking
shape in his mind, forgetful of his art, beautiful surroundings,
moves slowly, it takes time to create beauty, he glances up with a
half smile at beauty passing him by, he may see lazy but this is how
he works, laid back with a different clock to the rest of society,
but it takes time to make beautiful things, enjoys the classics,
food, wine, languages of the world, he may disappear for a few days
then in what appears to be out of the blue a masterpiece is here, his
latest work of genius has arrived, he has captured all there is to
know of the human condition in his art, he leaves you in a state of
awe.
G#
Minor - An old soul, tired of the way life has become,
Medicine woman. Also associated with Sagittarius and the liver. 16
variations on a theme the highest count of all. The Major here is B
Major associated with Pisces and the Feet.
The Crone, the
old soul, the modern world tires her, crooked wooden house, tends her
medicinal plants, distain for mankind's folly's, old now, lined skin,
hard to image her as young but when she was she was fanciful a free
dancer, heart stopping beauty, even then she was wilful and distance,
not easy to know, the long years have isolated her, children wont
pass in front of her house, stews her cauldron, a student of folk
law, a keep of knowledge, carries wisdom of the Earth, no one knows
why she is in such pain but you can see it in her eyes, works with
her hands, tilling the soil, caring for animals as the seasons pass,
in winter she rarely stirs, but she is inside, you want to ask her
for something but you are too afraid to knock at the door, so you
turn and walk away, you have missed an opportunity.
128 variations
on a theme of 64 codons.
