Klarinet Archive - Posting 000233.txt from 1996/02

From: "Edwin V. Lacy" <el2@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: Perplexed About Chart
Date: Fri, 9 Feb 1996 12:51:34 -0500

On Thu, 8 Feb 1996, Phillip Harris wrote:

> Folded in the book was a chart that has me perplexed . It is not part of the
> book proper. I am going
>
> The 12 major scales are written out in chromatic sequence beginning with C,
> each in 2 or 3 octaves
[snip]

> This sequence is indicated below for the Major scles:
>
>
> C Db D Eb E F Gb G Ab A Bb B
>
> Bb 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
>
> C 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 1
2
>
> Eb 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 1 2 3 4
5
>
> F 8 9 10 11 12 1 2 3 4 5 6
> 7

It appears to me to be an aid to assist musicians in a band in learning
transposition for their instruments, or to a director who wasn't clear
about his/her transpositions.

The "Bb,C,Eb,F" in the left-hand column refer to the keys in which band
instruments are normally pitched: Bb for clarinets, cornets, trumpets,
tenor saxes and bass clarinets, C for flutes, oboes and all the bass clef
instruments, Eb for alto and baritone saxes and alto and contra-alto
clarinets, and F for French horns. (Yes, this latter one likely for
French horns rather than basset horns - sorry, basset horn enthusiasts!)

Let's say that the director wants to hear a Bb major scale. Then, he
would say to the group, all of whom would have a copy of this chart,
"Play scale No. 1." Notice that the number 1 in each row would indicate
to the Bb instruments to play their C major scale, to sound Bb.
Similarly, the number l in the row for non-transposing instruments is
in the Bb column; in the row for Eb instruments it is under G; and in the
row for F instruments it is under F.

Next, the director might want the group to play an Eb major scale. He
would tell the group to play scale No. 6. Look at the number 6 in each
row, then look at the key name at the top of that column to see what
scale each instrument would play.

By now, you will have discovered one of the problems with the chart - it
is more complicated than just learning the proper transpositions. I am
always a little exasperated with systems for learning things that are
more complicate than the thing they are supposed to explain.

So, I guess my advice would be, instead of spending a lot of time
studying this chart, just get a book on orchestration and look at what it
has to say about transposing instruments.

Ed Lacy
*********************************************************************
Dr. Edwin Lacy University of Evansville
Professor of Music 1800 Lincoln Avenue
Evansville, IN 47722
el2@-----.edu (812)479-2252
*********************************************************************