Some learned colleagues in the Facebook Concert Band Orchestration group have shown me the light of day, as it were. I’ve been carrying the torch for a straight transcription of Anton Bruckner’s Symphony No. 6 in A Major from orchestra to band without a key change, thinking that any such change away from A Major would be “dumbing it down.” Turns out I’ve been shooting myself in the foot. The key of A Major is so hard for some instruments, especially Eb instruments like saxes, that it’s nearly impossible to play for all but the most professional of ensembles. I’ve been limiting the number of ensembles that could perform my arrangement. This was made quite evident when I made a copy of the score of the 1st movement available for review.
I have since transposed my arrangement into the key of G Major. This retains some of the feel of the A Major original, yet cuts down on the number of sharps in the key signature for everyone. As a result, it should open up the arrangement for more ensembles to be able to play it.
Here’s the YouTube link where you can listen to the two versions back to back and compare them:
A Major Version: https://youtu.be/bGvums5A6jg
G Major Version: https://youtu.be/S5E2X2x6TIs
If you have an ensemble and wish to perform this movement, please contact me and I’ll get a score out to you ASAP. Thanks for listening!