[78-L] Brass Band keys

[Valerie Langfield]

David,

In the UK at least, and I can't see why it would be different your side, 
brass band instruments play in flat keys - that is, they are all 
transposing instruments and if they play a C it comes out as a B flat 
(instruments in E flat play C and it comes out as E flat). Flat keys are 
greatly favoured, or better still, keys without any accidentals at all! 
As far as I can recall, and I'm not at band again till Tuesday week, 
Bugler's holiday is scored in C which means it'll come out as B flat. 
For it to sound as B means it would be written in D flat for the B flat 
instruments, and A flat for the E flat instruments; most unlikely. Much 
easier for the B flat instrs to play in C, and the E flat insts to play 
in G.

The Dvorak is likely in concert G flat - not as horrific as it seems, 
since the B flat insts will play in A flat, and the E flat ones in E 
flat. That's OK to play.

Does my explanation make sense? Does it tie in with your findings?

(At the back of my mind is the idea that there was a slight pitch change 
in brass band instruments, too, a few generations ago, but I can't 
remember which way.)

Cheers,

Valerie


>Before I begin transferring some brass band records, a question about pitching
>and keys. A disc labelled "Dvorak's Slavonic Dance #8 in g minor" plays 
>closest
>to F#. Anderson's "Bugler's Holiday" plays in B. Actually they're both 
>slightly
>off but these are the closest actual keys (no more than 1% off)..just want to
>know if they're probably correct. The discs date from the mid fifties.

-- 
Valerie Langfield
www.rogerquilter.co.uk
www.boydell.co.uk/51158714.HTM
rcq at minuet.demon.co.uk