Klarinet Archive - Posting 001214.txt from 1998/01

From: "Edwin V. Lacy" <el2@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: Baritone horn or Euphonium
Date: Wed, 28 Jan 1998 14:26:15 -0500

On Thu, 29 Jan 1998, Luanne S. Jacobs wrote:

> They are quite similar but there is a difference and the fingerings are
> very different from each other. F on Euphonium for example is open but
> on Baritone TC, it is first valve.

There is a significant misconception here. All euphoniums or baritone
horns have exactly the same range, the same fingerings, the same
everything. You can't look at one of these instruments and say, "This is
a treble clef baritone," or, "This is a bass clef baritone." The
difference is in the way the player thinks of the music and in the
transposition.

When written in the bass clef, the instrument is non-transposing. That
is, the pitches are written exactly as they sound. If the player is more
adept at reading treble clef, the pitches are transposed up a major ninth.
Let's take an example. Say the note in question is the Eb below middle C.
If the player is reading bass clef, the note is fingered with the first
valve only. The player sees Eb, and Eb sounds. Now, let's say his
partner plays exactly the same instrument, except that he reads the treble
clef. Now, the note is transposed up a major ninth, so it is written as F
on the first space of the treble clef, and the player plays it with the
first valve, just as in the first example. Now, the player sees F, but Eb
sounds.

It's best not to try to make a comparison of this and the bass clarinet
when it is written in bass clef, because the situation is far more
complicated for the bass clarinet. There are at least two different types
of transposition for the bass clarinet. This has already been discussed
at length on the list. I'm sure the messages are archived in case anyone
is interested.

Ed Lacy
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Dr. Edwin Lacy University of Evansville
Professor of Music 1800 Lincoln Avenue
Evansville, IN 47722
el2@-----.edu (812)479-2754
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