I would agree. As a tenor, the treble cleff has less ledger lines, and is generally easier to sight read, although I don't really think that it makes a huge difference for me: I tend to sight sing by intervals, not by absolute pitch. Where the note "falls in your throat" sometimes throws me off, but generally it doesn't matter. Even the traditional C clef doesn't really bother me, once I get my bearings.
I also do a fair amount of notating for choirs, and find I get less complaints when using the 8vb treble clef. Because of publishing house requirements, I notice that they may want you to use as few staves as possible, to save paper. Personally, as a tenor I find this maddening, because I have to keep switching clefs. I'd rather just stick to one clef, since a lot of what I do is performing with very few rehearsals. From a composition point of view, I prefer to notate depending on the music. Music that is polyphonic - I prefer to notate all four parts (with tenor on the 8vb treble), but otherwise prefer two clefs because it's easier to proof the harmonies. But again, it generally doesn't matter that much to me. I think as a composer, you need to consider how your piece will be performed, and make it easier for the performer to understand, whether or not they are reading for sight-singing or not. The less time spent explaining everything, the better for the director. And certainly, reading multiple clefs should not be a problem. Our director (of an amateur choir) frequently has us reading parts meant for other singers (e.g., alto reading the bass and singing it an octave higher), and it has been beneficial, in my opinion. Just my 2 cents. On 9/14/2011 4:13 PM, Scott wrote: > Being a tenor, and singing in a wide variety groups, etc., over the years, > this is what I've found with modern printing / editing practices. When a > four part piece is written on four separate staves (S-A-T-B), the "treble 8" > clef is used for the tenor. If the piece is written on two staves (SA-TB), or > sometimes even three (S-A-TB), the tenor shares the bass clef with the > basses and baritones. I've have seen a few variations from this, but they > are too rare to even be considered. > > As for my personal tastes, having performed pieces ranging from the > medieval to the modern, my first choice would of course be the tenor clef. > But, when forced to make a choice between the bass clef and the "treble 8" > clef, I very much prefer reading the treble clef. I think most tenors would > agree with me. > > Scott Holland > > > Tenor - Westminster Choir College '94/'98 > > _______________________________________________ > Finale mailing list > Finale@shsu.edu > http://lists.shsu.edu/mailman/listinfo/finale > _______________________________________________ Finale mailing list Finale@shsu.edu http://lists.shsu.edu/mailman/listinfo/finale
