Klarinet Archive - Posting 000289.txt from 1997/09

From: Mike Nichols <mrn8395@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: treble clef
Date: Sat, 6 Sep 1997 21:57:49 -0400

On Sat, 6 Sep 1997, Mark Charette wrote:

> Mike Nichols wrote:
> <...>
> > So much of clarinet music is played in the clarion register,
> > though, that for most of the time clarinet music would still be
> > notated in treble.
>
> No disagreement there; however, when there are a significant
> (whatever that means) number of notes that would be conveniently
> be notated using another clef, why not switch? Piano music
> does this frequently; my 8 year old accomodates the clef changes
> in either hand on the piano readily.
>

Well, I guess you could ask the same question regarding violin parts.
The violin can play almost as low as a clarinet (down to a G), yet violin
players don't change clefs. Actually, for clarinet and violin it would
make more sense to have a clef change for the altissimo notes than for
the lower notes--to have some sort of "sopranino clef." I've seen violin
parts with up to 5 upper ledger lines on them. Usually if they have to
go beyond that they use 8va, but 5 ledger lines is still disturbing to
the eyes.

I guess they just must have run out of ideas for new clef shapes or
stomething. :)

Mike Nichols
mnichols@-----.edu