Re: [Harp-L] Just what exactly is 'key'?

["Doug H" <dough.harpl@xxxxxxxxx>]

Daniel,

In junior philosophy courses it is common for the prof to demonstrate to young students that some of their certainty regarding the meaning of words is poorly founded.  But, by pressing the process to its extreme, it is further demonstrated that an open-ended analysis can destroy the usefulness of language. 

One of the examples from my first year philosophy class (about 45 years ago) was the definition of a beard.  Any definitions that the class suggested were easily demonstrated to be useless by the examples the prof would present.  Was our lesson that there was no such thing as a beard?  No. The prof subsequently demonstrated that the word was still useful and the english language did not need revision.  We all left the class still knowing what a beard was, still confident of our 'naive' use of the word, yet a bit wiser for the exercise. 

I don't know about "Impressions", but I do know that it is easy to imagine melodies to which no definition of key will apply, and one could thereby conclude no 'universal' definition of key can exist.  But it is also easy to find definitions of 'key' that do apply, and straightforwardly, to huge swathes of the musical landscape.  And that is what most folks mean by 'key' when asking the question "how do I find out what key a song is in?".  They might someday advance to a level where they share your concerns but along the way it will be handy for them learn which harp to grab.

Harp content:  Don't get your moustache (or beard) caught in your harp!

Doug H

----- Original Message ----- 
  From: sheltraw@xxxxxxxxxxxx 
  To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx 
  Sent: Monday, May 09, 2011 4:11 PM
  Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Just what exactly is 'key'?


  Hi doug

  There is yet a third important category: Those who are aware of the many
  definitions of "key" and find them ambiguous and of little utility.

  I think that it is important for the beginner to understand this and I
  think that it gets increasingly more important as one advances. I have
  heard many folks (not necessarily on Harp-L) empower ambiguous musical
  definitions of "key" with utility the definitions do not possess.

  PS: When I wrote previously that "I don't have a definition for the term."
  I should have been a bit more precise. I should have written that I
  do not have a musical definition for the term. The only definition of
  "key" that I see of a benefit is that used in standard notation of music.
  But that definition applies to a notational rather than musical convention.

  PS PS: What key would you (or anyone else) assign Coltrane's "Impressions"?

  Cheers!


  > On the topic of "key" the members of this list probably fall mainly into
  > two groups: those who have a working definition of key that they are well
  > served by; and those who do not, but want to learn from those who do.
  >
  > One of the great things about harp-L is that you can be assured that those
  > who have this knowledge will generously share it with those who are
  > seeking it.  And of course others can join the conversation as well.
  >
  > Doug H
  >   ----- Original Message -----
  >   From: sheltraw@xxxxxxxxxxxx
  >   To: Doug H
  >   Sent: Monday, May 09, 2011 11:28 AM
  >   Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Just what exactly is 'key'?
  >
  >
  >   Hi Doug
  >
  >   I don't have a definition for the term. All the definitions that I am
  > aware
  >   of are of little use to me. I avoid use of the term and begrudgingly use
  >   it when forced to by circumstance.
  >
  >   Cheers!
  >
  >   >
  >   > What is your definition of key?
  >   >
  >   > Doug H
  >