Modulation (music)

In music, modulation is most commonly the act or process of changing from one key (tonic, or tonal center) to another. This may or may not be accompanied by a change in key signature. Modulations articulate or create the structure or form of many pieces, as well as add interest. Treatment of a chord as the tonic for less than a phrase is considered tonicization.

Requirements

The quasi-tonic is the tonic of the new key established by the modulation. The modulating dominant is the dominant of the quasi-tonic. The pivot chord is a predominant to the modulating dominant and a chord common to both the keys of the tonic and the quasi-tonic. For example, in a modulation to the dominant, ii/V-V/V-V could be a pivot chord, modulating dominant, and quasi-tonic.

Key Change

Key Change (foaled 10 May 1993) was an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare best known for winning the Yorkshire Oaks in 1996. After winning one of her two starts as a juvenile she improved when moved up to longer distances as a three-year-old, winning the Ballysax Stakes on her seasonal debut. She was placed in both the Ribblesdale Stakes and the Irish Oaks before winning the Group One Yorkshire Oaks in August. She went on to finish second in the Irish St Leger but failed on her only start in 1997. After her retirement from racing she had success as a dam of winners.

Background

Key Change was a bay mare bred in Ireland by the Aga Khan. She was sired by Darshaan who won the Prix du Jockey Club for the Aga Khan in 1984 before becoming a successful breeding stallion. The best of his other offspring included Dalakhani, Mark of Esteem and Kotashaan. Key Change dam Kashka was a daughter of Kalkeen, whose other descendants have included Kahyasi and Milan.

She was owned during her racing career by Lady Clague (born Margaret Isolin Cowley), the widow of the entrepreneur Douglas Clague. The filly was trained in Ireland by John Oxx and was ridden in all but two of her races by Johnny Murtagh.