E major, transcendent

While listening to Richter's immaculate live recording of Beethoven's Op. 109 sonata this morning, I was reminded that E major seems to signify transcendence, spiritual elevation, across quite a few different composers and time periods. A few other examples off the top of my head, from the piano repertoire, of course...

Bach's E-major fugue in book II

Beethoven's C-minor piano concerto, second movement

Brahms' intermezzo, op. 116, no. 4

Liszt's Sposalizio and several Consolations

Ravel's G-major concerto, second movement

 

Any others you can think of, especially music outside the piano repertoire?

Richard FountainComment