John Howell wrote:
(And of course current practice is to omit the key of the instrument anyway, at least in the band world: We know that Alto Sax is in Eb, Trumpet is in Bb, and Tuba is in Bb, so the pitch is not needed to identify them.)
Question: why do we say that the Tuba is in Bb, when it's actually in C. I mean, I know that the fundamental of the tuba's tube is Bb, but it's a C instrument, just like bassoon or cello, isn't it? (and unlike the other instruments you mentioned, which transpose)
-Mich�le
Don't confuse notation with nomencature. The (BBb) tuba is in Bb because its natural harmonic series is based on a fundamental of Bb. The fact that it is notated in concert pitch does not change that simple fact. The CC, Eb, and F tubas are also notated in concert pitch, but they are each "in" the key of their natural harmonic series. Which means a different set of fingerings for each one, even though the notation is concert pitch.
It was clearer in the 18th century, when parts were not transposed but written in one of the appropriate 9 movable clefs. It's the 19th century publishers who confused things by transposing the parts.
John
-- John & Susie Howell Virginia Tech Department of Music Blacksburg, Virginia, U.S.A 24061-0240 Vox (540) 231-8411 Fax (540) 231-5034 (mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]) http://www.music.vt.edu/faculty/howell/howell.html
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