“There’s no love song finer, but how strange the change from major to minor.” ‑ Cole Porter
This two-week series comes from a listener who wrote asking about the different scales in Western music. You may know of major and minor scales, and hear the change of mood that composers can achieve by transitioning between them, but there are five other scales, or modes, we hear all the time. You can hear modal shifts in works by Monteverdi and in the late symphonies of Beethoven, Schubert, and many more. Come with us and explore the vibrant palette of colors that composers can use to set and change moods. How strange the change?
How Strange the Change from Major to Minor, Part I
Playlist
Episode 1
Porter, Cole: “Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye”
Carmen McRae
Sings Great American Songwriters
MCA GRP16312
3:03
Mendelssohn, Felix: A Midsummer Night’s Dream Overture, Op. 21
Orchestra of The Age of Enlightenment/Charles Mackerras
Symphony No. 4, A Midsummer Night’s Dream 2001
Virgin Classics 61183
11:56
Beethoven, Ludwig Van: Egmont, Op. 84: Overture
New York Philharmonic Orchestra/Kurt Masur
Beethoven: Symphony #5, Egmont
Teldec 77313
8:43
Beethoven, Ludwig Van: Symphony No.5 in C Minor, Op. 67
1. Allegro Con Brio
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra/Carlos Kleiber
Beethoven Symphonies
DG 415861
7:22
Beethoven, Ludwig Van: Symphony No. 5 in C Minor, Op. 67
III. Scherzo: Allegro
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra/Carlos Kleiber
Beethoven Symphonies
DG 415861
11:01
Porter, Cole: “Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye”
Carmen McRae
Sings Great American Songwriters
MCA GRP16312
3:03
Episode 2
Traditional: “What Shall We Do With A Drunken Sailor?” (excerpt)
The Fisherman’s Friends, Long Dan Russell, The Cod Wranglers
& Ron Kavana & The Sherkin Crew
A treasure of Shanties and Songs by the Sea
Proper PRPCD092
00:35
Traditional: “What Shall We Do With The Drunken Sailor?”
Robert Shaw Chorale
Sea Shanties
RCA 63528-2
2:54
Cornyshe, William: “Ah, Robin”
Alfred Deller and The Deller Consort
Folk Songs and Ballads
Vanguard ADD 1955-61
2:25
Holst, Gustav: Second Suite in F for Military Band:
II. Song Without Words (I’ll Love My Love)
III. The Song of the Blacksmith
The Central Band of the Royal Air Force/Wing Commander Eric Banks
British Music for Concert Band
EMI 49608
3:55
Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel: Scarborough Fair / Canticle
Simon & Garfunkel
Greatest Hits
Columbia, CK 66022
3:10
John Lennon and Paul McCartney: Eleanor Rigby
The Beatles
Revolver
Parlophone CDP 7 46441 2
2:06
Beethoven, Ludwig van: Missa Solemnis, Op.123
Credo: Et incarnatus est
New Philharmonia Chorus and orchestra/Otto Klemperer
Elisabeth Söderström; Waldemar Kmentt; Marga Höffgen; Martti Talvela
Philharmonia Orchestra
EMI 67547
5:17
Delius, Frederick: On Hearing The First Cuckoo in Spring
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Thomas Beecham
Delius: Orchestral Works, Vol. 1
EMI 47509
6:25
Child Ballad: Geordie
Joan Baez
In Concert
Vanguard VCD 113/14
3:38
McGlaughlin, William: Three Sketches for Three Winds
II. Variations on a Theme — Geordie Moriah Winds
III. Boogawoogop
Moriah Winds
6:12
Vaughan Williams, Ralph: Norfolk Rhapsody No. 1
London Philharmonic Orchestra/Bernard Haitink
Vaughan Williams
EMI 55487
11:36
Porter, Cole: “Every Time We Say Goodbye” (excerpt)
Jimmy Scott
All the Way Jimmy Scott
aad 26955
1:05
Episode 3
Sibelius, Jean: Night Ride & Sunrise, Op. 55
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra/Simon Rattle
Simon Rattle-Sibelius
EMI 47006
14:35
Sibelius, Jean: Symphony No. 2 in D, Op. 43
1. Allegretto
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra/George Szell
Sibelius: Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Opus 43
Phil 420771
9:25
Sibelius, Jean: Symphony No. 2 in D, Op. 43
2. Andante Ma Rubato
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra/George Szell
Sibelius: Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Opus 43
Phil 420771
12:41
Sibelius, Jean: Symphony No. 2 in D, Op. 43 –
3. Vivacissimo
4. Allegro Moderato
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra/George Szell
Sibelius: Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Opus 43
Phil 420771
15:03
Porter, Cole: “Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye”
Ann Hampton Callaway
To Ella with Love
Shanachie 5121
01:44
Episode 4
Liszt, Franz: No. 4 Ständchen (Serenade) S. 560
Piano Transcriptions After Schubert: Vladimir Horowitz
Horowitz – Complete Recordings on Deutsche Grammophon
DG 474 370-2
5:39
Dvořák, Antonín: Bagatelles – Allegretto scherzando
Beethovenhalle Orchestre/Dennis Russell Davies
Bagatelles & Serenade
MMD 60180 Musicmasters
2:52
Johannes, Brahms: Symphony No. 1 in C Minor, Op. 68 –
I. Un Poco Sostenuto, Allegro
Chicago Symphony Orchestra/Georg Solti
Brahms: The Symphonies
Decca 414458
16:53
Johannes, Brahms: Symphony No. 1 in C Minor, Op. 68
IV. Adagio, Più Andante, Allegro Non Troppo, Ma Con Brio
Chicago Symphony Orchestra/Georg Solti
Brahms: The Symphonies
Decca 414458
17:31
Porter, Cole: “Every Time We Say Goodbye”
Karrin Allyson, Steve Wilson, sax James Williams, piano
Ballads: Remembering John Coltrane
CONCORD JAZZ CCD-4950-25
6:01
Johannes, Brahms: Symphony No. 1 in C Minor, Op. 68
III. Un poco Allegretto e grazioso (excerpt)
Chicago Symphony Orchestra/Georg Solti
Brahms: The Symphonies
Decca E430992
1:40
Episode 5
Mahler, Gustav: Symphony No. 1 in D Minor, “Titan”
III. (excerpt)
Philharmonia Orchestra/Giuseppe Sinopoli
Gustav Mahler Edition
DG 429 228-2
11:55
Mahler, Gustav: Symphony No. 2 in C Minor, “Resurrection”
1. Allegro Maestoso
New York Philharmonic Orchestra/Leonard Bernstein
Mahler Symphony No. 2. Leonard Bernstein
DG 423 395-2
24:48
Mahler, Gustav: Symphony No. 2 in C Minor, “Resurrection”
13. Langsam, Nicht Schleppen
14. Etwas Bewegter “O Glaube, Mein Herz, O Glaube”
15. Mit Aufschwung, Aber Nicht Eilen “O Schmerz, Du All Durchdringer”
New York Philharmonic Orchestra/Leonard Bernstein
Barbara Hendricks, Christa Ludwig, Westminster Choir
Mahler Symphony No. 2. Leonard Bernstein
DG 423 395-2
16:46
Porter, Cole: Every Time We Say Goodbye”
Keith Jarrett and Charlie Haden
Last Dance
ECM Records ECM 2399
4:25