Klarinet Archive - Posting 000584.txt from 2006/03

From: "Lacy, Edwin" <el2@-----.edu>
Subj: RE: [kl] Re: Keys (from Let's get real)
Date: Mon, 27 Mar 2006 14:52:43 -0500

<<<I, too, have heard the hogwash about F major being a "calm" key, and
so
on. This ignores the rather serious problem of transposing
instruments. If the orchestra is in F major, then my Bb clarinet is in
G major, my A clarinet would be in Ab major, the alto saxes would be in
D, and despite continued research, science has not yet determined which
key the french horns would be in.

So, does that mean a clarinet playing in G is "calm"?>>>

No, a Bb clarinet playing in its written key of G IS in the key of F.

We can call the matter of the character of various keys "hogwash" if we
want to, but that doesn't negate the fact that some pretty outstanding
musicians seem to have been able to associate various keys with their
own distinguishing characteristics. I'm referring to such musicians as
Mozart, Beethoven, etc., etc. The fact that any particular individual
may not be able to hear these qualities, or that I may not be able to do
so, does not constitute evidence that such a phenomenon does not exist.

Ed Lacy
University of Evansville

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