E flat major

[Alison]

What is it about this key ? A favourite since learning the piano as a kid.

I just prefer Elgar's Second Symphony to the First: the key clinches it.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

E flat always reminds me of grass green. It is the key of two of my favourite symphonies - Beethoven 3 and Mozart 39. More sinisiter is its association with Freemansonary, hence its use in Die Zauberflote.

I'm rather fond of Elgar 2 as well, but I prefer no. 1 to any other symphony by anyone.

[french frank]

What is it about this key ? A favourite since learning the piano as a kid.

I just prefer Elgar's Second Symphony to the First: the key clinches it.

What about Beethoven's Op 70 - prefer No 2 to the Ghost Trio in D?

[Alison]

What about Beethoven's Op 70 - prefer No 2 to the Ghost Trio in D?

Right on. Op 70 no 2 for me !!

[cloughie]

E flat always reminds me of grass green. It is the key of two of my favourite symphonies - Beethoven 3 and Mozart 39. More sinisiter is its association with Freemansonary, hence its use in Die Zauberflote.

I'm rather fond of Elgar 2 as well, but I prefer no. 1 to any other symphony by anyone.

Me too!

[Bryn]

E flat always reminds me of grass green. It is the key of two of my favourite symphonies - Beethoven 3 and Mozart 39. More sinisiter is its association with Freemansonary, hence its use in Die Zauberflote.

I'm rather fond of Elgar 2 as well, but I prefer no. 1 to any other symphony by anyone.

With the exception of the (to any other symphony by anyone), we are for once in concurrence. To me, the First was Elgar's greatest masterpiece. Best I not mention whose performances of the work I most admire. There are several, however, whose interpretation is only marred for me by excessive vibrato.

[cloughie]

With the exception of the (to any other symphony by anyone), we are for once in concurrence. To me, the First was Elgar's greatest masterpiece. Best I not mention whose performances of the work I most admire. There are several, however, whose interpretation is only marred for me by excessive vibrato.

Maybe but it needs some !

[Alison]

Is the second in the repertoire of your man, Nethersage ?

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Best I not mention whose performances of the work I most admire.

Hmm. Perhaps you're right.

There are several, however, whose interpretation is only marred for me by excessive vibrato.

Elgar's own perhaps?

[Keraulophone]

Bach's Prelude and Fugue in E flat (known in England as the "St Anne") is one of the most magnificent of all his organ works. It bookends the Clavier-Übung part III, sometimes known as the German Organ Mass. The Prelude has three separate themes, sometimes overlapping, and the Fugue is in three sections with each section a separate fugue on a different theme. And, of course, it is in the key of E flat which has three flats. Some have interpreted these 'threes' as representing the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Wolff has analysed the numerological symbolism of the whole Organ Mass; the golden ratio also seems to have been used in its construction.

[Bryn]

Hmm. Perhaps you're right.Elgar's own perhaps?

Indeed, orchestral fashion had changed by the time he got to make the electrical recording. I am given to understand that he rather liked the new trend of finger wobbling. It is most unlikely, however, that Richter would have put up with such intonational imprecision at the premier. However, it's not just the relative lack of string vibrato that so attracts me to the performances in question.

Oh, and Alison, not that I know of. Nor the 'third', come to that.

[Serial_Apologist]

I'm not at all convinced that any one starting off key is more important than any other. After all, the distribution of tones remains the same whatever the tonality. Register is I think more important. After that, in the classical tradition it all becomes a matter of modulation, key relationships, diversions from the given key and how far you're prepared to take them - if you're old fashioned and prefer the security of having keys to hang onto.

Personally I think keys should never have been invented. I can never find mine when I need them.

[Pabmusic]

I'm not at all convinced that any one starting off key is more important than any other. After all, the distribution of tones remains the same whatever the tonality. Register is I think more important. After that, in the classical tradition it all becomes a matter of modulation, key relationships, diversions from the given key and how far you're prepared to take them - if you're old fashioned and prefer the security of having keys to hang onto...

You are right in general. However, I do think that keys that permit few or no open strings do have a palpable effect - and I'm sure that many composers thought they do.

[Dave2002]

Indeed, orchestral fashion had changed by the time he got to make the electrical recording. I am given to understand that he rather liked the new trend of finger wobbling. It is most unlikely, however, that Richter would have put up with such intonational imprecision at the premier. However, it's not just the relative lack of string vibrato that so attracts me to the performances in question.

Oh, and Alison, not that I know of. Nor the 'third', come to that.

I presume you mean someone whose version of Monteverdi's Vespers I heard at the Proms many years ago. Can't find the 1st symphony to sample, but did find this - http://open.spotify.com/track/4ndPQzDwZqtCktJkSVjlkL Shock horror - in one of the cello solos the performer uses vibrato. What can he have been thinking of? Otherwise it's very strange, as the orchestra does largely play without it. A different sort of sound, and David Hurwitz wouldn't like it! (Who cares, anyway!)

Re E flat - Mozart - Several serenades, horn concertos etc., Beethoven Eroica. I was about to list a few more, then I thought of this - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E-flat_major

I really like some of the Mozart wind serenades, and of course the Sinfonia Concertante.

Relative minor key C minor.

[mercia]

I love the Mendelssohn Octet
up until two minutes ago I didn't know it was in E flat major
do I love it because it is in E flat major ? ........................... probably not