B-flat minor

B♭ minor or B-flat minor is a minor scale based on B-flat, consisting of the pitches B♭, C, D♭, E♭, F, G♭, and A♭. Its key signature has five flats. The harmonic minor scale would use an A♮ instead of A♭.

Its relative major is D-flat major, and its parallel major is B-flat major. Its enharmonic equivalent is A-sharp minor.

B-flat minor is traditionally a 'dark' key. 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", 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.

In classical music

B-flat

B-flat or B♭ may refer to:

B♭ (musical note)

B♭ (B-flat; also called si bémol) is the eleventh semitone of the Western chromatic scale (starting from C).

It lies a diatonic semitone above A and a chromatic semitone below B, thus being enharmonic to A♯ although in some musical tunings, B♭ will have a different sounding pitch than A♯.

When calculated in equal temperament with a reference of A above middle C as 440 Hz, the frequency of the B♭ above middle C is approximately 466.164 Hz. See pitch (music) for a discussion of historical variations in frequency.

While orchestras tune to an A provided by the oboist, wind ensembles usually tune to a B-flat provided by a tuba, horn, or clarinet.

In Germany, Russia, Poland and Scandinavia this pitch is designated B, with 'H' used to designate the B-natural. Since the 1990s, B flat is often denoted Bb or "Bess" instead of B in Swedish music textbooks. Natural B is called B by Swedish jazz and pop musicians, but still denoted H in classical music. See B (musical note) for an explanation.

B-flat (jazz club)

b-flat (full name: b-flat Acoustic Music & Jazzclub) is a jazz club in Berlin, Germany.

Overview

The b-flat was launched in 1995 by musician brothers Jannis Zotos and Thanassis Zotos and the actor André Hennecke. From 1997 on Joerg Zieprig has been responsible for booking. The club is located near Hackescher Markt at Rosenthaler Strasse 13. It is open every night and has become an inherent part of the Berlin jazz scene. Local as well as internationally renowned musicians play jazz music of all different styles. On Wednesday nights there is a regular weekly jam session hosted by bass player Robin Draganic who is joined by varying guests.

Many well known musicians have played the b-flat over the years: Joe Sample, Harry Connick Jr., Don Braden, Aki Takase, Alexander von Schlippenbach, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Judy Niemack, Mal Waldron, or Mikis Theodorakis.

References

External links

Coordinates: 52°31′39″N 13°24′10″E / 52.5274°N 13.4029°E / 52.5274; 13.4029