The Pastoral Key of F Major…

Although it’s entirely subjective, and boils down to the choice of the composer, pieces are written in different keys for a reason. Music scholars and composers have weighed in over the centuries about the characteristics of the different keys, and rarely come to a consensus. For F Major, several descriptions include words like ‘calm,’ ‘mild,’ and ‘contemplative.’ There’s also a bit of an association with rustic or pastoral scenes, helped along in no small way by Beethoven.

Here are the 11 selections used (click and scroll down to make them visible – mobile device users, keep scrolling down):

1. Beethoven: Symphony No. 6, “Pastoral” 
2. Dvorak: String Quartet  No. 12, op. 96  “American”
3. Joplin: Solace
4. Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 21, mvt. ii
5. Ravel: String Quartet
6. Vivaldi: ‘Autumn’ from the Four Seasons, mvt. iii
7. Brahms: Symphony No. 3
8. Chopin: Ballade No. 2, op 38
9. J.S. Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No 2, mvt. iii
10. Schumann: Concertpiece for 4 Horns, op. 86
11. Gershwin: Concerto in F (finale)

1. Beethoven: Symphony No. 6, “Pastoral”
2. Dvorak: String Quartet  No. 12, op. 96  “American”
3. Joplin: Solace
4. Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 21, mvt. ii
5. Ravel: String Quartet
6. Vivaldi: ‘Autumn’ from the Four Seasons, mvt. iii
7. Brahms: Symphony No. 3
8. Chopin: Ballade No. 2, op 38
9. J.S. Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No 2, mvt. iii
10. Schumann: Concertpiece for 4 Horns, op. 86
11. Gershwin: Concerto in F (finale)