View source for B-flat minor

{{Short description|Minor scale based on B-flat}}
{{Infobox musical scale
| name=B-flat minor<score>{ \magnifyStaff #3/2 \omit Score.TimeSignature \key bes \minor s16 \clef F \key bes \minor s^"" }</score>
| relative=[[D-flat major]]
| parallel=[[B-flat major]]
| dominant=[[F minor]]
| subdominant=[[E-flat minor]]
| enharmonic=[[A-sharp minor]]
| first_pitch=B{{music|flat}}
| second_pitch=C
| third_pitch=D{{music|flat}}
| fourth_pitch=E{{music|flat}}
| fifth_pitch=F
| sixth_pitch=G{{music|flat}}
| seventh_pitch=A{{music|flat}}
}}
'''B-flat minor''' is a [[minor scale]] based on [[B♭ (musical note)|B{{music|flat}}]], consisting of the pitches B{{music|flat}}, [[C (musical note)|C]], [[D♭ (musical note)|D{{music|flat}}]], [[E♭ (musical note)|E{{music|flat}}]], [[F (musical note)|F]], [[G♭ (musical note)|G{{music|flat}}]], and [[A♭ (musical note)|A{{music|flat}}]]. Its [[key signature]] has five [[Flat (music)|flats]]. Its [[Relative key|relative major]] is [[D-flat major]] and its [[parallel key|parallel major]] is [[B-flat major]]. Its [[enharmonic]] equivalent, [[A-sharp minor]], which would contain seven sharps, is not normally used.

The B-flat [[natural minor scale]] is:

{{block indent|<score sound raw>
\header { tagline = ##f }
scale = \relative b { \key bes \minor \omit Score.TimeSignature
  bes^"B♭ natural minor scale" c des es f ges as bes as ges f es des c bes2 \clef F \key bes \minor }
\score { { << \cadenzaOn \scale \context NoteNames \scale >> } \layout { } \midi { } }
</score>}}

Changes needed for the melodic and harmonic versions of the scale are written in with accidentals as necessary. The B-flat [[Harmonic minor scale|harmonic minor]] and [[Melodic minor scale|melodic minor scales]] are:

{{block indent|<score sound raw>
\header { tagline = ##f }
scale = \relative b { \key bes \minor \omit Score.TimeSignature
  bes^"B♭ harmonic minor scale" c des es f ges a bes a! ges f es des c bes2 \clef F \key bes \minor }
\score { { << \cadenzaOn \scale \context NoteNames \scale >> } \layout { } \midi { } }
</score>}}
{{block indent|<score sound raw>
\header { tagline = ##f }
scale = \relative b { \key bes \minor \omit Score.TimeSignature
  bes^"B♭ melodic minor scale (ascending and descending)" c des es f g a bes as? ges? f es des c bes2 \clef F \key bes \minor }
\score { { << \cadenzaOn \scale \context NoteNames \scale >> } \layout { } \midi { } }
</score>}}

==Scale degree chords==
The [[scale degree]] chords of B-flat minor are:
* [[Tonic (music)|Tonic]] – B-flat minor
* [[Supertonic]] – [[Diminished triad|C diminished]]
* [[Mediant]] – [[D-flat major]]
* [[Subdominant]] – [[E-flat minor]]
* [[Dominant (music)|Dominant]] – [[F minor]]
* [[Submediant]] – [[G-flat major]]
* [[Subtonic]] – [[A-flat major]]

== Characteristics ==
B-flat minor is traditionally a 'dark' key.<ref>[[Wilfrid Mellers]], "Round and About in Górecki's Symphony No. 3" ''[[Tempo (journal)|Tempo]]'' '''168''' 3 (1989): 23</ref>

The old [[Brass instrument valve|valveless]] [[French horn|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.<ref>J. Murray Barbour, ''Trumpets, Horns, and Music'' (1964), p. 163</ref>

==Notable classical compositions==
{{See also|List of symphonies in B-flat minor}}
<!-- Please do not add a "list of music in this key" to this article without a source.-->
{{Div col|colwidth=25em}}
* [[Charles-Valentin Alkan]]
** ''[[Preludes, Op. 31 (Alkan)|Prelude Op. 31]]'', No. 12 (Le temps qui n'est plus)
** [[Symphony for Solo Piano (Alkan)#Menuet|Symphony for Solo Piano, 3rd movement: Menuet]]
*[[Samuel Barber]]
**''[[Adagio for Strings]]''
*[[Frédéric Chopin]]
**[[Piano Sonata No. 2 (Chopin)|Piano Sonata No. 2 "Funeral March"]]<ref>{{IMSLP|work=Piano Sonata No.2, Op.35 (Chopin, Frédéric)|cname=Piano Sonata No. 2, Op. 35 (Chopin)}}</ref>
**[[Nocturnes, Op. 9 (Chopin)|Nocturne Op. 9 No. 1]]<ref>{{IMSLP|work=Nocturnes, Op.9 (Chopin, Frédéric)|cname=Nocturnes, Op. 9 (Chopin)}}</ref>
**[[Scherzo No. 2 (Chopin)|Scherzo No. 2]]<ref>{{IMSLP|work=Scherzo No.2, Op.31 (Chopin, Frédéric)|cname=Scherzo No. 2, Op. 31 (Chopin)}}</ref>
**[[Preludes (Chopin)|Prelude Op. 28, No. 16 "Hades"]]<ref>{{IMSLP|work=Preludes, Op.28 (Chopin, Frédéric)|cname=Preludes, Op.28 (Chopin)}}</ref>
**[[Mazurkas, Op. 24 (Chopin)|Mazurka Op. 24, No. 4]]
*[[Franz Liszt]]
**[[Transcendental Étude No. 12 (Liszt)|Transcendental Étude No. 12]] (''Chasse-neige'') from ''[[Transcendental Études]]''
*[[Sergei Rachmaninoff]]
**[[Piano Sonata No. 2 (Rachmaninoff)|Piano Sonata No. 2]], Op. 36<!-- No article for this composition
*[[Alexander Scriabin]]
**Études Op. 8: No. 11 in B-flat minor -->
*[[Dmitri Shostakovich]]
**[[Symphony No. 13 (Shostakovich)|Symphony No. 13]], Op. 113 ("Babi Yar")
**[[String Quartet No. 13 (Shostakovich)|String Quartet No. 13]], Op. 138
*[[Richard Strauss]]
**''[[An Alpine Symphony]]'' begins and ends in B-flat minor.
*[[Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky]]
**[[Piano Concerto No. 1 (Tchaikovsky)|Piano Concerto No. 1]]<ref>{{IMSLP|work=Piano Concerto No.1, Op.23 (Tchaikovsky, Pyotr)|cname=Piano Concerto No. 1, Op. 23 (Tchaikovsky)}}</ref>
**''[[Marche slave]]''
*[[William Walton]]
**[[Symphony No. 1 (Walton)|Symphony No. 1]]<!-- No article for this composition
*[[Sylvius Leopold Weiss]]
**Tombeau sur la Mort de Compte d'Logy -->
{{Div col end}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Commons category-inline|B-flat minor}}

{{Circle of fifths}}

[[Category:Musical keys]]
[[Category:Minor scales]]
[[Category:Compositions in B-flat minor| ]]