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I was trying to do an internet search and didn't come up with anything so I figured I'd ask here.

What pieces of concert band/wind band lit. have you come across in sharp keys, particularly E major and B major (yikes! )

I played "American Child" by Carter Pann a few years ago and it had a SLEW of sharps (E major and B major, etc). But I can't seem to recall any other things from recently.

We see sharps ALL the time at work. Granted, it is likely trumped by a composer's favorite key.... Gb major, but sharp keys are quite common.

My least favorite part of the gig is when we have to *gasp*.... Transpose! Because a vocalist likes another key. Generally, the product suffers in some way from a non-transposer.

Sharps.... Routine..... Flats.... Routine..... All accidentals with no key indication.... Routine. After all, it's just music!

pierso20 wrote:... E major and B major (yikes! ) ...

Do more orchestral playing, you'll get used to it.

Although, I hope I never get used to playing Sousa marches in sharp keys. It's just not right. I say let the strings read some flats for a change!

Mark wrote:

pierso20 wrote:... E major and B major (yikes! ) ...

Do more orchestral playing, you'll get used to it.

Although, I hope I never get used to playing Sousa marches in sharp keys. It's just not right. I say let the strings read some flats for a change!

I'm completely used to it. My playing is not generally inhibited by the key. I just couldn't think of any band pieces that are primarily in a sharp key. It's not an issue of difficulty as much as a curiosity, especially in looking at "standard" or new literature for band.

The transcription of Elsa's Procession to the Cathedral (Wagner) modulates from Eb to E and back.

I think one of the movements in Four Scottish Dances by Malcom Arnold is in E. (I think, if memory serves me correctly. It has been a long time)

ken k

ken k wrote:I think one of the movements in Four Scottish Dances by Malcom Arnold is in E. (I think, if memory serves me correctly. It has been a long time)

ken k

I had thought one of them may have done that. It has been a long time for me as well. At least 7 or so years.

pierso20 wrote:

ken k wrote:I think one of the movements in Four Scottish Dances by Malcom Arnold is in E. (I think, if memory serves me correctly. It has been a long time)

ken k

I had thought one of them may have done that. It has been a long time for me as well. At least 7 or so years.

more like 27 for me!!!!!

ken k wrote:

pierso20 wrote:

ken k wrote:I think one of the movements in Four Scottish Dances by Malcom Arnold is in E. (I think, if memory serves me correctly. It has been a long time)

ken k

I had thought one of them may have done that. It has been a long time for me as well. At least 7 or so years.

more like 27 for me!!!!!

Apparently our definition of "long" are quite different...after all, I havn't even been alive for 27 years

I seem to remember Stravinsky's "Circus Polka" as sightreading on my audition. It had sharps; seemed like 12 of them at the time.

bloke wrote:I'm relieved when I see band music that is written in sharp keys.

That music is much easier to negotiate when playing my AA#, BB#, D#, and E# tubas.

Circus Polka. . . but it lays nicely, even for BBb.

sailn2ba wrote:Circus Polka. . . but it lays nicely, even for BBb.

Whole notes in E major lay nicely for me