(Ger. D dur). The key of classical strength and clarity. It is particularly suitable for works written for string instruments, because the TONIC (D) and the DOMINANT (A) are played on open strings on the violin, viola, and cello. CHORDS and SCALE passages can be easily and rapidly played on string instruments in this key.

The great majority of violin CONCERTOS are written in D major: those by LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN, JOHANNES BRAHMS, and PIOTR ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY are the most famous examples. WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART set his Prague Symphony and the endearing Haffner Symphony in D major, both works expressing the joy of music making. One of the most frequently played symphonies by FRANZ JOSEPH HAYDN, written for his London concerts and catalogued as no. 104, is in D major.

When SERGEI PROKOFIEV determined to show the world that he could emulate Haydn à la moderne, he wrote his Classical Symphony in the key of D major.