Deciding on a Key

[Majesty]

I would add my say, but I will say that I am on the same page with Thorolf. Something is always lost when a singer or any musicians transposes a piece. Singers don't really "get away", its just that as an instrument the voice in many ways it limited when compared to other instruments. That is why transposition is a must. A Dramatic Mezzo and Dramatic Soprano may have the same exact range but the nature of the dramatic mezzo's instrument will make it difficult so sing various pieces as the dramatic soprano does. On top of that, the timbre of each voice helps to bring forth additional qualities of a chosen key. Many singers always say that a particular key feels good or fits their voice perfectly.

So, choosing keys are important because the same idea translates all other instruments. An instrumental ensemble, be it an orchestra, chamber group of any combo, or what have you, is a sea of color to be used. Each instrument has its own "flavor", "color" and timbre and when you can understand the nature of an instrument, its timbre, its "personality" in various registers, and how it works when combined with other instrumnets, you will see that being specific with key choices makes a HUGE difference.

[reith]

Originally Posted by Majesty

....Each instrument has its own "flavor", "color" and timbre and when you can understand the nature of an instrument, its timbre, its "personality" in various registers, and how it works when combined with other instrumnets, you will see that being specific with key choices makes a HUGE difference.

Very true. Not everyone appreciates that no two notes in the compass of an instrument have exactly the same timbre (aside from details like strings can play the same note on more than one string with the exception of their lowest string).

[stevel]

Originally Posted by reith

Very true. Not everyone appreciates that no two notes in the compass of an instrument have exactly the same timbre (aside from details like strings can play the same note on more than one string with the exception of their lowest string).

So, if you use an orchestra, which key is best?

While it's true that some notes will produce various timbres, you may be able to get the timbres you desire from a whole tone scale instead of a major or minor scale!

Besides, you can use open E in C, F, G, and even Chormatically in Bb on violin. It's not the key that makes that timbre, it's the notes (and in this case, the playing position) being used. "Keys" don't have particular sounds on instruments, but the notes that are used primarily in those keys. Whether that's "good", "bad", "pastoral", etc. is subjective.

Cheers,
Steve

[Thorolf]

Originally Posted by stevel

It's not the key that makes that timbre, it's the notes (and in this case, the playing position) being used. "Keys" don't have particular sounds on instruments, but the notes that are used primarily in those keys.

…uh? Isn’t any key defined by a spesific set of notes, with certain functions? I don’t really understand what you’re getting at here,

Originally Posted by stevel

So, if you use an orchestra, which key is best?

As we all say no key is better, nor worse, only different… Knowing that they are different, one can easily see that ideas change when transposed.



Regards

[Majesty]

It is the notes and the order of the notes that create the "key" and its "distinction". I posted a piece in Major works titled "Symphony in B Major". It was a piece I wrote when I was a young college student. After having a reading of the piece one of the composition professors mentioned that it would have been easier for certain instruments if the piece was lowered even a 1/2 step because of the nature of the keys combined with the instruments. I told him I agreed except I wanted the brightness and boldness of B Majors and other various effects of other keys around it. The professor's reply was "your right. B Major is a very bright key". So that you know his name is Larry Bell and you can google him.

The key you choose will depend on how you want to use the colors/timbres of the orchestra. The material you come up with will also make a diference.


You may be able to use open stings like E in the keys of F,G,A an Bb but, the note E in has a different function because of its order in various keys. If you study counterpoin you will understand the importance of a notes "role" in a key, how to adhere to its natural functions and how to manipulate its role in unexpected ways that are not so natural.

Don't forget that musical notes are actually specific vibrations. Therefore relationship that notes have with eachother effect how these vibrations are heard.

[reith]

Originally Posted by Majesty

It is the notes and the order of the notes that create the "key" and its "distinction". I posted a piece in Major works titled "Symphony in B Major". It was a piece I wrote when I was a young college student. After having a reading of the piece one of the composition professors mentioned that it would have been easier for certain instruments if the piece was lowered even a 1/2 step because of the nature of the keys combined with the instruments. I told him I agreed except I wanted the brightness and boldness of B Majors and other various effects of other keys around it. The professor's reply was "your right. B Major is a very bright key".

Now...THAT really strikes a...chord...argh! a pun but an exactly right one!

How's this for coincidence?
I recently reached some kind of conclusion on a woodwind quartet. I'd already written an 'unperformable (if you aren't the New York Woodwind Quintet)' version few years ago. It needed a warm, bright opening, it came from a warm bright place so guess what - it emerged in B major. The players didn't like that and I got the same response - why not C or Bflat, easier for us all? I said, It doesn't quite work the same. Anyway, they could play the opening and said, "Yeah, you're right. It has to be B."

In its latest form it also ends on B maj. It just had to. Although..... I'd never actually confess to a key in the title, nor would I use a key sig but it's still in B major!! Attached below P1 of the score.

Don't forget that musical notes are actually specific vibrations. Therefore relationship that notes have with eachother effect how these vibrations are heard.

Yep and that's another point, the intermodulation between them will differ from a semitone up or down. There's quite a lot to this!

[Majesty]

B Major?!! That is quite a coincidence

Yes, many of the moments of your score does "feel" like B Major.

Whenever I get students interested in composition the philosophy of individual notes and vibrations and how they "associate" with one another is one of the first things I stress.