[78-L] Brass Band keys

[Steven C. Barr]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Valerie Langfield" <rcq at minuet.demon.co.uk>
> 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?
> 
Not totally...but then again, I am a singer/harmonicist in my own blues
band, and often work (or used to?!) with a saxophonist...who called
our keys by HIS id's! Since harmonicas come from the factory bearing
their keys (which are the same as guitarists use!)...I would have to
explain the relevant key to my saxophonist; IIRC, I memorized several
"sax keys" relative to my "harp keys"...but NOT all of them!

As far as I knew, my C harp played blues ("second position") in G;
trying to remember which key (of his) my saxophonist should be in
demanded more than my aging memory could recall!!

...stevenc