Klarinet Archive - Posting 000399.txt from 1997/02

From: Mark Charette <charette@-----.com>
Subj: Re: transposing
Date: Wed, 12 Feb 1997 16:41:31 -0500

Oliver wrote:
> That is,
> the key signature wasn't exactly right. It doesn't happen very
> often but in the last year I recall running into a couple of pieces
> which fit into that category. Any comments on this?

I take it you don't play piano !^) Many, many piano pieces change key
back and forth (along with clefs) - some even change keys for
each hand independently (just to be mischevious).

One thing to remember when transposing: Keys have "flavors", which
physically means that the beat notes created by two or more notes have
particular frequencies. Changing keys keeps the relative spacing
of the notes equal (assuming an equally tempered scale), however
the beat notes and harmonic signature will be different, sometimes
vastly different. Without equal tempering (like a clarinet is
by nature) things get even more "interesting".

I hear "flavors" in keys, and can usually find the right key for
a piece of music after hearing it by going to the piano and trying
different keys until I find the one that "sounds" right, and can
spot C#min by ear ;^)
--
Mark Charette Webmaster, http://sneezy.mika.com/charette
charette@-----.com