B-flat major

B-flat major is a major scale based on B♭, with pitches B♭, C, D, E♭, F, G, and A. Its key signature has two flats. Its relative minor is G minor and its parallel minor is B-flat minor.

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

The B-flat major scale is:

{ \omit Score.TimeSignature \relative c' { \key bes \major \time 7/4 bes c d es f g a bes a g f es d c bes2 \clef F \key bes \major } }

Many transposing instruments are pitched in B-flat major, including the clarinet, trumpet, tenor saxophone, and soprano saxophone. As a result, B-flat major is one of the most popular keys for concert band compositions.

Scale degree chords

History

Joseph Haydn's Symphony No. 98 is often credited as the first symphony written in that key, including trumpet and timpani parts. However, his brother Michael Haydn wrote one such symphony earlier, No. 36. Nonetheless, Joseph Haydn still gets credit for writing the timpani part at actual pitch with an F major key signature (instead of transposing with a C major key signature), a procedure that made sense since he limited that instrument to the tonic and dominant pitches.[1] Many editions of the work use no key signature and specify the instrument as "Timpani in B♭–F".

Notable classical compositions

References
  1. H. C. Robbins Landon, Haydn Symphonies, London: British Broadcasting Corporation (1966): 57
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