[78-L] Brass Band keys

[Jeff Sultanof]

>From an arranger's standpoint, what you say is correct, Valerie. Brass
instruments are generally pitched in Bb, so flat keys are far more common
for concert and brass band repertoire.

Which is why such a big deal was made about Fletcher Henderson writing in
sharp keys - musicians playing sax, trumpet and trombone were not as versed
in such keys, and they used to have to woodshed these arrangements to make
them sound properly.

Jeff Sultanof

On Sat, Jun 20, 2009 at 10:32 PM, Steven C. Barr <stevenc at interlinks.net>wrote:

> ----- 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
> _______________________________________________
> 78-L mailing list
> 78-L at klickitat.78online.com
> http://klickitat.78online.com/mailman/listinfo/78-l
>