The Washington Post March | Independence Eve

Colorado Symphony performs The Washington Post March by John Philip Sousa at the annual Independence Eve celebration in Civic Center Park, July 3, 2012.

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

To play in the original key we'd have to tune the string instruments down a step so GDAE is FCGD, CGDA is BbFCG, BEADG becomes ADGCF, etc.

[@BryceNewall]

It's common practice for arrangers to change the key of Sousa marches when arranging for full orchestra instead of just band. I am the concertmaster of a local community orchestra, and when we perform the Stars and Stripes Forever at our annual pops concerts (except for last year, of course), we play a version that is in D Major instead of the original E-flat Major. Strings generally prefer sharp keys vs. flat keys, and the winds end up getting the short end of the stick.

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

But actually if we tune the string instruments up a half step we can play in flat keys.

[@BryceNewall]

@@RockStarOscarStern634 You could, but there are 2 potential problems: 1) Strings can break if tuned too high (granted, a half step probably wouldn't cause a problem, unless your strings are really old); and 2) Anyone with perfect pitch (like me) or close to it would be driven crazy by the fact that they are not hearing the notes they expect to hear when playing a given fingering. :)

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

@@BryceNewall They would have to have special parts that say "Tune up a Half Step ala Paganinni". Paganinni used that tuning & his strings never broke because they used special strings made for that tuning called solo strings.

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

@@BryceNewall Tuning down a whole step would be easier because 1) the string players can thing like clarinet players in that every note will sound a step lower than written & 2) the strings won't break.

[@BryceNewall]

@@RockStarOscarStern634 I've done a couple of baroque opera performances where we actually tuned our instruments down a half step to A 415. I thought I would find it difficult to play, but surprisingly, I didn't. At home, I tried an experiment: I played something simple I knew on the (electronic) piano at A 440, then tuned the keyboard down to A 415 and played it again... no problem. But then when I tried tuning UP a half step (A 475, I suppose), I just couldn't handle it! LOL...

[@andymilsten9096]

I love it in this key🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗

[@user-uu5he7zr8o]

I've play this music in B♭major. by Wind music.So,I want them to play like that.
But, I think that This music is also good.

[@ivansantiesteban-bx8ze]

0:31

[@astolfo699]

Classic

[@jimweber5191]

Weird key, guessing it's to better fit the strings and not a normal brass/wind band.

[@BryceNewall]

Yup... (see my comment above). Although I don't see why any halfway decent string section couldn't play this in F Major instead of having to transpose it to G. :)