ABSTRACT
A modulation is a change of key lasting for several measures or more and confirmed by functional progressions and cadences in the new key. Modulations, and the relations among key areas, are defining features of a musical work’s form. Modulations can be very obvious to the ear or somewhat subtle, and they are noticeable in the score. Music may modulate to any key. However, it is common for major-mode works to modulate to the dominant key, and for minor-mode works to modulate to the relative major or the minor dominant—all closely related keys. The key signatures of two closely related keys differ by no more than one accidental, and these keys are adjacent on the circle of fifths. The three chords enclosed in rectangles could each serve as a diatonic pivot in the modulation.
