I couldn't go to my windband rehearsal on Tuesday because I was working late.

This morning I found out that we are going to be playing "Peter and the Wolf"
My initial reaction was "great" but then I started to wonder what it would be like arranged for wind band. Has anyone played it?

And can anyone tell me what key the original version is in? The windband version apparently has a key signature of 4 flats (at least at the start) - I haven't yet seen the part.

Have just checked on the June Emerson website and found three versions from different publishers with narrator and three others where narrator is not mentioned. The skill level seems to range from grade 3-4 up to grade 6-7, so I'm not sure anyone can help you, with such variety.

As for the key, you should know that all windband pieces are in flat keys, the more flats the merrier, it seems.

I can't help re the windband question but I have played the Oboe part in the orchestral version and its not bad..nasty little slips between C and Db but other than that its ok..a left hand C# key would be nice on the Oboe but its a retrofit and not really worth doing for the few occaisions it would be needed..

Don't think of flats and sharps, they are just notes nothing more nothing less..Its Ab major 4 flats isnt it I have to really think. Ab is a bit of a pain as Db major is always easier..but again its only notes though on the Oboe you will need a right hand Eb key..says he casting his mind back..

Good luck with it its a lovely piece

I'm not bothered by flats or sharps as such, it's just that I don't like playing pieces I know reasonably well in a different key as they sound odd. (The worst was my daughter playing God Save the Queen in Eb major on the trombone ). Wikepedia gives the instrumentation as a "clarinet in A" which suggested to me that the original was probably in a sharp key.

Ah I see sorry I didnt realise who I was talking to you have changed your name..penny dropped now sorry hun..

I cant think of the key of hand but it wasnt too bad..

Sorry about the confusion - but at least you know who I am now
And going off topic, how's your health?

Much improved thanks...feeling more like my old self..

Currently working on "The Flower Clock"..lovely but tricky..

i'm pretty sure that both clarinets are used. Will go and check my orchestral excerpts book (I played bassoon when I performed it). I think it would be odd with no strings!

OK all the bits in my excerpts book are for A. Main cat theme is in Eb starting on low F. (so in C major starting on concert D). The bit where the cat climbs up the tree to get away from the wolf is in Db (so concert Bb) and the next time we get the cat theme it's in F so concert D major.

Pick a key any key ;-) so glad I don't have perfect pitch. The organist played a right fistful of notes in the introduction to the Sanctus yesterday and I didn't have a clue what to come in on as all I could tell was that the chords were wrong, but had no idea which of the notes he was playing were correct; my husband knows what a D sounds like so started on the right note!

It was in a different key; started in Bb major and modulated into Ab. (Can't remember if there was another key change and the other oboist has taken the part to make a copy so can't go and check).


I don't have perfect pitch but have some sort of memory of what things sound like so I can tell you they sound "wrong" but can't usually tell you if they have been transposed up or down.

As it turns out Peter and the Wolf sounded very "wrong" without the strings so I didn't really notice that the key was different (plus the light immediately above my stand wasn't working so I couldn't see the music properly and was having to concentrate harder than usual to try and work out what the notes were).

Welcome to the wonderful world of Prokofiev! The original orchestral version does use both Bb and A clarinets mainly because the piece modulates so much and goes into so many different keys. From memory when i played it last it was predominantly on Bb starting in Bb but soon onto Ab, Db, B and if i remember correctly one evil section in 6 or 7 sharps! My TG excerpts book seems to back this up too! The part where the cat scrambles up the tree is particularly nasty in the original key.

There are some very tricky sections in the piece in the keys that Prokofiev settled on, so for less able players transposition to easier keys is needed and this will change the sound and certainly make it seem "wrong" to those of us who know the piece well. Not come across the wind band version but if it's arranged well it should work provided the key centres haven't been changed too much!

Any wind band arrangement will be 100% Bb clarinet (as I'm sure you realise, Clari_notts!)

absolutely! but that then sets up the challenge of whether to change the key to and easy one or live with lots of flats or sharps! most windband arrangements would tend to move to the easier key option which then plays tricks on the ears of us who know the piece well as it starts to sound "wrong". full circle again!!!!

I'll see if I can find an arrangement, and I'll let you know! Some arrangements of classical works are very faithful to original keys (particularly older arrangements like the Boosey and Hawkes series), others are not...

There is 1 arrangement of Peter and the Wolf that whilst written for Bb remains true to the original keys/pitches requiring the 1st clarinet to play a low Eb!

Do you know the publisher?

Just being utterly pedantic the wind band arrangement of John Adams' 'short ride in a fast machine' requires 2 players to play A clarinet.

There's always an exception

I have a vague memory it was a Japanese publisher but it must have been over 10 years ago I played it.

thanks