Re: Explain the Circle of 5ths

"Hacienda de Ville" <ferrante276-haciendadeville@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in
message 
news:nedqv3160d9mpcpea0p27bab6f6f2qspgt@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> What exactly is the purpose of the circle of 5ths and how essential is
> it to know?

Sorry if I missed this is in another answer.     Apart from mathematical 
reasons, the strongest musical reason is the V-I cadence.    For example 
chord-of-G -> chord-of-C.   If you're in the key of C this sounds like a 
particularly good "finish" (so good that it is known as a "perfect
cadence") 
and has been around for hundreds of years.

A slight variation which evolved is G7 -> C which can sound even more 
finished.    V-I or V7-I must be by far the commonest endings for pieces
of 
music.

Now try the sequence (for example)

C -> E7 -> A7 -> D7 -> G7 -> C

The first C chord establishes the key.  Then it jumps to E7.

After that E7->A would be a V7-I cadence and sound "finished" except (a)
you 
still have the feeling you're in C and (b) the 7 in A7 stops it sounding 
finished.
Similarly A7->D7 and D7->G7

Then G7->C really does sound finished - as if you have made it back home.

From E7 to C you are progressing back home via the cycle of 5ths.    It is
a 
very common musical device - you find it in lots of pieces.    C-E7 is 
almost like throwing a ball in the air, and E7->......->C is like watching

it fall gracefully to earth.

Dave
-- 
David Webber
Author of 'Mozart the Music Processor'
http://www.mozart.co.uk
For discussion/sup****t see
http://www.mozart.co.uk/mozartists/mailinglist.htm