66 



Scientific Proceedings, Royal Dublin Society. 



No single word will convey the variety of impressions made 

 upon the mind by each note, but the impressions made by each 

 form a natural group, and an attempt is made in the above 

 Table to indicate one of the central members of each group. It 

 however requires considerable modification when the music moves 

 rajpidly. 



Now observe that in the key of A b it is the firm note, the 

 hopeful note, the solemn note, and the strong note, which are 

 softened by falling on black keys ; while on the other hand the 

 gentle note, the sorrowful note, and the sensitive note, are re- 

 latively emphasized ; and this, taken in conjunction with what has 

 been stated above, will abundantly account for the gentle liquid 

 effect which can be produced in so striking a manner by this key. 



The key of A stands in contrast to this. Here the gentle, 

 sorrowful, and sensitive elements of the music are placed in the 

 background, while prominence is given to the firm, hopeful, solemn, 

 and strong elements. Hence A major, and its allies D and E, 

 are eminently the keys for powerful, rousing, and joyous effects 

 on the piano. 



It would be tedious to go through the details of applying this 

 method to all the major keys, and it is less necessary as it is easy 

 for the reader to satisfy himself that this method of treatment 

 will give a tolerably good account of the peculiar effect of each 

 upon our emotions. 



In treating minor keys it will have to be remembered that la. 



