B-flat minor

B-flat minor
Relative key	D-flat major
Parallel key	B-flat major
Dominant key	F minor
Subdominant	E-flat minor; enharmonic: D-sharp minor
Enharmonic	A-sharp minor
Component pitches
	B♭, C, D♭, E♭, F, G♭, A♭

B-flat minor is a minor scale based on B♭, consisting of the pitches B♭, C, D♭, E♭, F, G♭, and A♭. Its key signature has five flats. Its relative major is D-flat major and its parallel major is B-flat major. Its enharmonic equivalent, A-sharp minor, which would contain seven sharps, is not normally used.

The B-flat natural minor scale is:

${ \override Score.TimeSignature #'stencil = ##f \relative c' { \clef treble \key bes \minor \time 7/4 bes4^\markup { Natural minor scale } c des es f ges aes bes aes ges f es des c bes2 \clef bass \key bes \minor } }$

Changes needed for the melodic and harmonic versions of the scale are written in with accidentals as necessary. The B-flat harmonic minor and melodic minor scales are:

${ \override Score.TimeSignature #'stencil = ##f \relative c' { \clef treble \key bes \minor \time 7/4 bes4^\markup { Harmonic minor scale } c des es f ges a bes a ges f es des c bes2 } }$

${ \override Score.TimeSignature #'stencil = ##f \relative c' { \clef treble \key bes \minor \time 7/4 bes4^\markup { Melodic minor scale (ascending and descending) } c des es f g a bes aes! ges! f es des c bes2 } }$

Characteristics

B-flat minor is traditionally a 'dark' key.^[1] Important oboe solos in this key in the orchestral literature include the second movement of Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 4, which depicts "the feeling that you get when you are all alone"^{[citation needed]} in Tchaikovsky's words. Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1 is also in B-flat minor. An Alpine Symphony by Richard Strauss begins and ends in B-flat minor.

The old valveless horn was barely capable of playing in B-flat minor; the only example found in 18th-century music is a modulation that occurs in the first minuet of Franz Krommer's Concertino in D major, Op. 80.^[2]

Samuel Barber wrote Adagio for Strings in B-flat minor as well.

Notable classical compositions

References

^ Wilfred Mellers, "Round and About in Górecki's Symphony No. 3" Tempo 168 3 (1989): 23
^ J. Murray Barbour, Trumpets, Horns, and Music (1964), p. 163
^ Piano Sonata No. 2, Op. 35 (Chopin, Frédéric): Scores at the International Music Score Library Project
^ Nocturnes, Op. 9 (Chopin, Frédéric): Scores at the International Music Score Library Project
^ Scherzo No. 2, Op. 31 (Chopin, Frédéric): Scores at the International Music Score Library Project
^ Preludes, Op.28 (Chopin, Frédéric): Scores at the International Music Score Library Project
^ Piano Concerto No. 1, Op. 23 (Tchaikovsky, Pyotr): Scores at the International Music Score Library Project

External links

Media related to B-flat minor at Wikimedia Commons

[1] Wilfred Mellers, "Round and About in Górecki's Symphony No. 3" Tempo 168 3 (1989): 23

[2] J. Murray Barbour, Trumpets, Horns, and Music (1964), p. 163

[3] Piano Sonata No. 2, Op. 35 (Chopin, Frédéric): Scores at the International Music Score Library Project

[4] Nocturnes, Op. 9 (Chopin, Frédéric): Scores at the International Music Score Library Project

[5] Scherzo No. 2, Op. 31 (Chopin, Frédéric): Scores at the International Music Score Library Project

[6] Preludes, Op.28 (Chopin, Frédéric): Scores at the International Music Score Library Project

[7] Piano Concerto No. 1, Op. 23 (Tchaikovsky, Pyotr): Scores at the International Music Score Library Project

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