B-flat minor

B-flat minor
${ \magnifyStaff #3/2 \omit Score.TimeSignature \key bes \minor s16 \clef F \key bes \minor s^"" }$
Relative key	D-flat major
Parallel key	B-flat major
Dominant key	F minor
Subdominant	E-flat minor
Enharmonic	A-sharp minor
Component pitches
	B♭,C, D♭,E♭,F, G♭,A♭

B-flat minoris aminor scalebased onB♭,consisting of the pitches B♭,C,D♭,E♭,F,G♭,andA♭.Itskey signaturehas fiveflats.Itsrelative majorisD-flat majorand itsparallel majorisB-flat major.Itsenharmonicequivalent,A-sharp minor,which would contain seven sharps, is not normally used.

The B-flatnatural minor scaleis:

$\header { tagline = ##f } scale = \relative c' { \key bes \minor \omit Score.TimeSignature bes^"Natural minor scale" c des es f ges aes bes aes ges f es des c bes2 \clef F \key bes \minor } \score { { << \cadenzaOn \scale \context NoteNames \scale >> } \layout { } \midi { } }$

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

$\header { tagline = ##f } scale = \relative c' { \key bes \minor \omit Score.TimeSignature bes^"Harmonic minor scale" c des es f ges a bes a ges f es des c bes2 } \score { { << \cadenzaOn \scale \context NoteNames \scale >> } \layout { } \midi { } }$

$\header { tagline = ##f } scale = \relative c' { \key bes \minor \omit Score.TimeSignature bes^"Melodic minor scale (ascending and descending)" c des es f g a bes aes! ges! f es des c bes2 } \score { { << \cadenzaOn \scale \context NoteNames \scale >> } \layout { } \midi { } }$

Scale degree chords

Thescale degreechords of B-flat minor are:

Characteristics

B-flat minor is traditionally a 'dark' key.^[1]

The oldvalveless hornwas 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 ofFranz Krommer's Concertino inD major,Op. 80.^[2]

Notable classical compositions

Charles-Valentin Alkan
- Prelude Op. 31,No. 12 (Le temps qui n'est plus)
- Symphony for Solo Piano, 3rd movement: Menuet
Samuel Barber
- Adagio for Strings
Frédéric Chopin
Franz Liszt
- Transcendental Étude No. 12(Chasse-neige) fromTranscendental Études
Sergei Rachmaninoff
- Piano Sonata No. 2,Op. 36
Dmitri Shostakovich
- Symphony No. 13,Op. 113 ( "Babi Yar" )
- String Quartet No. 13,Op. 138
Richard Strauss
- An Alpine Symphonybegins and ends in B-flat minor.
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
- Piano Concerto No. 1^[7]
- Marche slave
William Walton
- Symphony No. 1

References

^Wilfrid Mellers,"Round and About in Górecki's Symphony No. 3"Tempo1683 (1989): 23
^J. Murray Barbour,Trumpets, Horns, and Music(1964), p. 163
^Piano Sonata No. 2, Op. 35 (Chopin):Scores at theInternational Music Score Library Project
^Nocturnes, Op. 9 (Chopin):Scores at theInternational Music Score Library Project
^Scherzo No. 2, Op. 31 (Chopin):Scores at theInternational Music Score Library Project
^Preludes, Op.28 (Chopin):Scores at theInternational Music Score Library Project
^Piano Concerto No. 1, Op. 23 (Tchaikovsky):Scores at theInternational Music Score Library Project

External links

Media related toB-flat minorat Wikimedia Commons

[1] Wilfrid Mellers,"Round and About in Górecki's Symphony No. 3"Tempo1683 (1989): 23

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

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

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

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

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

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

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