Re: [Finale] Re: Trombone clef in early music
Some will understand by looking at the clef that it should be played on alto trombone. Others will look at it and think it is a mis-printed viola part. These reactions will of course depend on the nature of the ensembles which will be playing the music. Many amateur trombone players never learn to play other than bass clef and many have no clue there is such a beast as the alto trombone, being used to only the tenor and bass trombone. You should specifically label the part Alto Trombone if you want it played on alto trombone. David H. Bailey Michael Simpson wrote: Query: What about modern music? If I write a trombone part in alto clef, will it be tacitly understood that it is an alto trombone part? ___ Finale mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://lists.shsu.edu/mailman/listinfo/finale -- David H. Bailey [EMAIL PROTECTED] ___ Finale mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://lists.shsu.edu/mailman/listinfo/finale
Re: [Finale] Re: Trombone clef in early music
On May 15, 2004, at 1:09 PM, Michael Simpson wrote: Query: What about modern music? If I write a trombone part in alto clef, will it be tacitly understood that it is an alto trombone part? Absolutely not! If you want an alto trombone, you must specify it in the staff name, after which you may write it in any of the three standard trombone clefs (A, T, or B), though alto clef is traditional. On the other hand I would strongly advise against using the alto clef for any modern trombone part that is not specifically for alto trombone. The modern alto trombone was extinct for most of the 20th century, and has lately been revived as part of the historical authenticity movement. If you write for it in a modern piece, it will be seen as a self-conscious archaism (not that there's anything wrong with that), just as it would if you wrote for, say, ophicleide. I can't emphasize too strongly that in *all* periods of trombone music, the clef of the part is not an absolute guide to the instrument required. In all periods, it is expected (unless the composer requests a specific size of trombone by name) that the player will choose an instrument appropriate to the part, regardless of clef. Andrew Stiller Kallisti Music Press http://www.kallistimusic.com/ ___ Finale mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://lists.shsu.edu/mailman/listinfo/finale
[Finale] Re: Trombone clef in early music
Query: What about modern music? If I write a trombone part in alto clef, will it be tacitly understood that it is an alto trombone part? ___ Finale mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://lists.shsu.edu/mailman/listinfo/finale
Re: [Finale] Re: Trombone clef in early music
Michael Simpson wrote: Query: What about modern music? If I write a trombone part in alto clef, will it be tacitly understood that it is an alto trombone part? If you want a part played on alto trombone, put that at the top. cd ___ Finale mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://lists.shsu.edu/mailman/listinfo/finale
[Finale] Re: Trombone clef in early music
Title: [Finale] Re: Trombone clef in early music Query: What about modern music? If I write a trombone part in alto clef, will it be tacitly understood that it is an alto trombone part? No. Alto clef for trombone parts is purely a historical convention, and these parts may be played on alto OR tenor trombone (Mozart usually on alto, Brahms or Beethoven usually on tenor, for example). The main reason for using tenor clef rather than the modern standard bass clef is to avoid excessive ledger lines. Just to weigh in on the reading clefs discussion, I completely agree with David Fenton on context for clefs. As a trombonist, I had to learn all four of the usual clefs, and Bb, Bb 8va, Eb, and Eb 8va transpositions (F is less secure for me) and yet to this day I have serious problems swinging if a part shows up in tenor clef or (heaven help me) alto clef in a jazz situation. No problem in classical at all, but after years of associating certain performance practices with certain clefs, it is a hard habit to break. I remember having this discussion a couple of years ago on this list about font choices. Jazz musicians seem to swing better if the part is copied to look hand-written (using the JazzFont, or something like it.) There seems to be this association with engraved-looking parts, where they seem more authoritative, and the musician automatically goes into classical mode, which involves reading exactly what is on the page, and not adding anything that isn't expressly written (and paying more attention to tuning and tone, incidentally!) With a hand-written part, they assume that they are permitted, nay, REQUIRED to make it sound looser and more personal. It seems to be the same with clefs. Christopher ___ Finale mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://lists.shsu.edu/mailman/listinfo/finale
