I could swear we went all through this just a few months ago! The differing notations for bcl are *regional*. The bass clef is absolutely standard in Germany, Austria, and much of E. Europe, and the treble clef is used there only for high notes, which, BTW, sound a major second lower, not a major ninth lower as in the "French" notation used in the rest of the world.> [John Blane:]"The Technique of Orchestration" by Kent Wheeler Kennan, if I remember(although I am unclear as to why you would show a bass clef for this instrument).
correctly (it's not handy to check now) states that either the treble clef or
bass clef can be used for notating music for the bass clarinet. If the music
is
in treble clef, it is played a major 9th lower than the notated pitch, and, if
it is in bass clef, it is played a major 2nd lower. Considering the pitch
range
of the instrument, I would have thought the bass clef to be the better choice,
and the one I would prefer.
Is there a particular reason why the use of bass clef should be surprising?
Yes, because it's completely nonstandard! Keenan's advice is woefully out of date -- the bass clef is no longer a viable option for bass clarinet parts. It's an anachronism, like "old style" horn transposition when in bass clef. As for why the treble clef is preferred, it is for same reason treble clef is used for the baritone sax -- so that clarinet (and alto sax) players can easily double on bass clarinet (and baritone sax) without having to learn new fingerings or get used to reading a different clef.- Darcy
I've explained this to the list, it feels like, over and over and over. Whay doesn't it stick? Make a sampler, people! Put it on your wall:
X X X GERMAN BASS CLARINETS USE THE BASS CLEF X X X
--
Andrew Stiller
Kallisti Music Press
http://www.kallistimusic.com
_______________________________________________
Finale mailing list
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://mail.shsu.edu/mailman/listinfo/finale
