Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Humanities/2016 April 23

= April 23 =

What key is the BSG "Apocalypse" theme in?
In the TV movie Battlestar Galactica: The Plan there is an orchestrated theme, of which you can see a live appearance here. At about 40 seconds in, a stringed motif played on what I am told is an electric violin begins. Can anyone (e.g., (?) tell me what key the piece is set in, if any? Thanks. μηδείς (talk) 23:22, 23 April 2016 (UTC)


 * It seems to be in D minor. --   Jack of Oz   [pleasantries]  05:02, 24 April 2016 (UTC)


 * The saddest of all keys... -- Jayron 32 01:10, 25 April 2016 (UTC)
 * Thanks. I played it along with some other rock songs for a friend who's been studying violin for two years, and he blurted out that it was in A minor.  I can barely tell a violin from a piano on the radio, so I was curious as to his accuracy.  I don't know how one determines the key without having the sheet music in any case, unless one has perfect pitch. μηδείς (talk) 20:01, 24 April 2016 (UTC)


 * Perfect pitch isn't necessary. A well-tuned instrument that gives discrete notes (a piano, for example, or a guitar; but not a violin) is all we need.  You find the notes on the keyboard by trial and error, and then work out what the tonic is, which is usually a very simple exercise.  I played the melody on my recently-tuned piano and, unless I've made a mistake, the tonic does seem to be D, not A.  I've just now gone and repeated the exercise. A minor has a raised G, which this tune doesn't have.  D minor has a flattened B, which this tune does have.  And it ends on D, not A.  Hence, D minor.  But IANAPM (I am not a professional musician/musicologist).  --   Jack of Oz   [pleasantries]  01:43, 25 April 2016 (UTC)


 * I'll have to get my friend (my nephew, he'll be 11 soon) to work out the notes and follow your instructions. That was a great answer, Jack, thanks. μηδείς (talk) 02:32, 25 April 2016 (UTC)