Nahoko SEKIMOTO, Was Jean-Adam Serre (1704-1788) dualist? The justification of the origin of the minor mode in his Essais sur les principes de l’harmonie (1753)

Abstract

The 18th century Swiss theorist Jean-Adam Serre (1704-1788) has been
largely neglected. Yet, his first theoretical writing, Essais sur les principes de
l’harmonie, published in Paris in 1753, contains numerous ideas worth
examination, in particular the question of the origin of the minor mode. This
paper will focus on his justification of the minor mode and will emphasize common
points between Serre’s and nineteenth century German theories dubbed “harmonic
dualism”.