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Key Matters

Music: Classical

Ivan Hewett explores how different musical keys seem to have distinct characteristics

Ivan Hewett explores how different musical keys seem to have distinct characteristics and create specific moods

Key Matters: Series 3

Key Matters: Series 3: Episode 3: E Major

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Episode 3

Episode 3: E Major

Series 3

E Major

BBC Radio 4 - Key Matters, Series 3, E Major

Ivan is joined by violinist, Prof Paul Robertson, to explore the ecstatic key of E major.

Ivan Hewett is joined by violinist, Prof Paul Robertson, to explore the bright and ecstatic key of E major.

In "Key Matters" Ivan Hewett explores the way in which different musical keys appear to have unique characteristics of their own. In this third programme, Ivan is joined by violinist, Professor Paul Robertson, to explore the bright and energetic key of E major. This key has traditionally been employed by composers for ecstatic music, such as Spring in Vivaldi's Four Seasons. But as Paul points out, sometimes a really great composer will take the key of E major and combine it with such subtle ideas, that the results become sublime, such as the slow movement of Schubert's String Quintet.

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Episode 3: E Major

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