John Howell �crit:The answer to your second question is, yes, the normal practice is to transcribe soprano clef into treble clef.
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It's always safe to transcribe those C4 parts into bass clef, but that will be very hard to read if the tessitura is high in the alto range.
Thanks, John, for your answer. But I'm afraid there's a misunderstanding, entirely my fault, because I stupidly used the French word for viola (alto), which made it uncomprehensible! So let me repeat my question.
I have an instrumental part for "violetta da brazzo", which seems (according to recent research) to be a viola. This viola part is written alternatively in C4 and C1 clefs. So my question is what should I do in a modern edition. Put it all in C3, or alternate between C3 and G2? In other words, how many ledger lines are acceptable for a violist? And do viola parts use occasionally G2 (I know the normal viola clef is C3).
Thanks, and apologies.
Up to 4 ledger lines (or 5 extra spaces) is quite readable for violists in C3 clef (and covers the notes in 3rd position). Many arrangers (moreso than composers) switch clefs much too often in viola parts, making it harder to read rather than easier. Make a quick judgement about the tessitura (rather than just the range) of the part and then use either C3 or G2 (yes, we have to, and do, read treble clef), but with as little switching as is practical.
The word "violetta" is generally thought to mean a smaller viola, playing a part a bit higher than the larger viola, in typical 5-part 17th century scoring. It could also mean a regular viola with a part for tenor violin, tuned an octave below the violin, below it. But the important factor is that it will probably be played by a violist today, so pick the clef to keep a violist happy.
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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