Re: [Harp-L] OT: music that sounds good in only one key

[sheltraw@xxxxxxxxxxxx]

Hi Robert

> I understand sharing the sonic space in ensemble, but I wonder what would
> make some keys sound more harsh?

In order to avoid the frequency-space of other instruments the pianist may
be restricting the chords to a particular region of the keyboard. A
particular key may then dictate a particular voicing in that region of
the keyboard for one or more chords. Some voicings sound harsher than others.

This is not the only plausible explanation. The relative amplitude of the
harmonics associated with each note on the piano is not fixed exactly. So
keeping the same relative voicing while transposing to a different key
could, for some sensitive ears, sound unacceptably compromised.

Also ears are best described as a non-linear system with respect to the
input frequencies. Frequencies that are not actually part of the sound
are nevertheless heard by the listener. Whats more those ears and brains
vary and some folks could be more sensitive than others.

There are other possibilities but the best way to understand your pianist
is ask him for more detail about the claim.

> And what keywords can I search to zero in on this curiosity?

It depends upon what the curiosity is. If it is chord voices then possibly
keywords like: chord voicing and dissonance may help.