The development of today’s musical system of twelve major and twelve minor keys was strongly influenced by the work of the astronomer Johannes Kepler, who in 1619 published “Harmonies of the World", his investigations of the true motions of the planets. In Book 3 in particular he describes an actual theory of the importance of the major and minor modes and of temperament which allows for free motion of these modes among the keys.
Kepler compared the distances of the planets from the sun at aphelion (farthest) and perihelion (closest), and derived the tempered musical scales in both major and minor modes. Bach's Preludes and Fugues was a definitive proof of the validity of Kepler's ideas.
Here is the Prelude and Fugue in C-sharp major from Book II of Bach’s Well-Tempered Clavier.
Bach Nr 3 BWV 872 Cis-Dur II Das Wohltemperierte Klavier Teil II Arpeggio Canzonetta Fuga composta
Bach Nr 3 BWV 872 Cis-Dur II Das Wohltemperierte Klavier Teil II Arpeggio Canzonetta Fuga composta
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John Scialdone published this page in Daily Beethoven 2021-07-27 11:08:57 -0400