Klarinet Archive - Posting 000000.txt from 1998/03

From: "Edwin V. Lacy" <el2@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: Clarinet as a Tuning Instrument
Date: Sun, 1 Mar 1998 00:03:52 -0500

On Sat, 28 Feb 1998, Roger Garrett wrote:

> A Brass instrument is called a C, Eb, F, etc tuning instrument because
> of the lowest fundamental pitch it sounds. Fo r example, an F horn is
> called an F horn because the lowest fundamental pitch it sounds is an F.
>
> A Bb clarinet, on the other hand, is based on the fingered C which
> sounds a Bb concert. Now....why is it not called a D clarinet because
> it's lowest sounding pitch is a Concert D?
>
> What about saxophones? An eb alto has a lowest fundamental pitch of a
> Bb (Db concert)...why is it not a Db instrument?

The problem is that the assumption in the first paragraph above is
incorrect. A trumpet is called a trumpet in Bb because when it plays its
written C, it sounds Bb. A trumpet, French horn or saxophone is in Eb if
when it plays its written C, it sounds Eb, etc. It actually has little to
do in this instance with the overtone series. The trumpet cannot sound
the lowest note, or fundamental, of its overtone series without playing a
pedal tone. That's because of the relationship between the diameter and
the length of its tubing.

The rule which simplifies all questions having to do with transposition
is, "An instrument playing its written C sounds its key name."

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