[78-L] Brass Band keys

[Valerie Langfield]

Because playing in B major is a really really odd thing to do. The B 
flat instruments would play in D flat - 2 semitones above the B, but 
that's actually a diminished 3rd rather than a major 2nd, (rather than C 
sharp major); the E flat instruments in A flat major (but should really 
be G sharp major, the minor 3rd below B) and the poor bass trombone, the 
only one to play in concert pitch, would play in B - oh, it may well be 
that in those days, the other trombones were still playing in concert 
(it changed). It would give even Harry M a headache, since his score 
would make him blink a bit with such a variety of odd-looking keys.

But I'm re-thinking the Dvorak. It would be fine for that to be in 
concert F (yes, a full tone below the original), so people would play in 
G major, D major, and trombones in F; that's still sufficiently 
sympathetic key-wise. How would that pan out with your pitch variance? 
(I'm making enquiries to try to confirm that.)

Valerie

>Okay (he said, avoiding the phrase "playing devil's advocate 
>here")..since this
>recording was made by an all-star brass band, conducted by Harry 
>Mortimer, what
>if it WAS arranged and played in B so they could show off? From the same
>sessions, Sleigh Ride and Bolero Brillante (Henry Geehl) also play in B unless
>I slow the discs down more than 3 percent, and Welsh Fantasy (Maldwyn Price)
>plays in C# (or D Flat..I told you I don't know anything about brass 
>instruments).
>
>dl
>
>Jeff Sultanof wrote:
>>>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!!

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