On the Changing Use of the Major and Minor Modes 1750–1900

Abstract

Historical changes in the use of the major and minor modes are traced in Western art music for the period 1750–1900 using cluster analysis methods. The analysis focuses exclusively on the interrelationships between modality, dynamics, tempo, and articulation in a random sample of 750 notated works. The resulting clusters are consistent with several affective or expressive categories, deemed joyful, regal, tender/lyrical, light/effervescent, serious, passionate, sneaky, and sad/relaxed . Changes across time are consistent with common intuitions regarding the shift from Classical to Romantic musical languages. Specifically, the light/effervescent category which dominates the late eighteenth century shrinks dramatically by the late nineteenth century, whereas the tender/lyrical and sad/relaxed categories increase. In general, use of the minor mode increases considerably over the 150-year period.