Keli Tzion, demystified (oops--Eli Tzion*)

I've long wondered why on earth a dirge like Keli Tzion, traditionally sung on Tisha B'Av, is sung in a major key. Here's the answer, from Cantor Bernard Beer, of Belz School of Jewish Music, Yeshiva University: It's based on a German Jewish tune. My understanding is that traditional German Jewish melodies are often written in the major mode. Why, I don't know. Some Sefardi songs are also written in the major mode, while others are written in the minor mode. My impression is that most Eastern European Ashkenazi melodies were written in the minor mode until the late twentieth century.

*Oops--I wish I'd remembered this DovBear post before I named this post.