Dominant key

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The dominant key in a given musical composition is the key whose tonic is a perfect fifth above (or a perfect fourth below) the tonic of the main key of the piece. Put another way, the key whose tonic is the dominant scale degree in the main key.[1]

In sonata form, the second subject group is usually in the dominant key. Even with the widest roaming modulations in the development, the dominant key exerts influence and eventually forces a return to the tonic key. [2]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Grove Music Online, "Dominant"] If, for example, a piece is written in the key of C major, then the key of C is the tonic key. The key of G major is the dominant key since it is based on the dominant note for the key of C major. <ref>[http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9030871/dominant#94697.hook ''Encyclopædia Britannica'' "dominant"]</li> <li id="cite_note-1">'''[[#cite_ref-1|^]]''' [http://www.answers.com/topic/sonata-form?cat=entertainment Answers.com "sonata"]</li></ol></ref>
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