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Re: Re: Royal Fireworks

To: <brass-band@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: [BRASS-BAND:5685] Re: Royal Fireworks
From: "David Lancaster" <david_lancaster@xxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Tue, 18 Mar 2003 17:00:43 -0000
References: <PMEFIJDNFDOOIOJEKJBNMEFLCAAA.george.fairhurst@ntlworld.com> <00a901c2ece2$c7337ec0$58657ad5@lancaster> <3E773456.E0418EF1@sympatico.ca>

I wrote:

> > The old D Wright arrangement of the suite is in the wrong key and lacks
> > brilliance - I think it was dumbed down to make a lower section test
piece -
> > and he took it upon himself to change the order of the movements!

and Dave Buckley commented:

> Not an untypical approach by brass band guys to the classics as I am
increasingly
> finding as I do more orchestra stuff. Discussed this once with Bob Redhead
who tells
> me that certain keys don't sound good on brass. Don't seem to remember
that there
> are many keys I haven't played in. Maybe some of the orchestral keys,
particularly
> multiple sharp ones, are deemed as too hard when transcibed directly for
brass?
>
> Any suggestions David? or others?

RR is right - some sharp keys cause serious tuning problems for bands.
They're playable but can sound uncomfortable.  The opening of Frank Wright's
arrangement of 'Judges of the Secret Court'  is a good example - it rarely
convinces me in performance.  It isn't just a band thing - string players
generally prefer sharp keys for similar reasons.

After criticising Dr Wright's arrangement I'm embarrased to report that my
arr. of Rejouissance is also in the 'wrong' key, though mine is higher and
hopefully brighter.  The transposition has more to do with preserving the
melodic integrity of Handel's original in preference to than jumping about
between octaves.  The alternative would be to have the solo cornets
screaming around top E which wasn't really a sensible option for my band...

D

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References:
- Royal Fireworks
  - From: George Fairhurst
- Re: Royal Fireworks
  - From: David Lancaster
- Re: Re: Royal Fireworks
  - From: David Buckley

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