Klarinet Archive - Posting 000261.txt from 1999/01

From: Mark Thiel <thielm@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] klarinet quartet help
Date: Fri, 8 Jan 1999 14:56:51 -0500

Jacqueline McGee wrote:

> please tell me how
> to properly transpose the third chair Eb to Bb in order to make this part
> fit in with rest of the quartet.

Those who aren't so far behind as I am reading the list covered the options
well -- I've a couple comments if you intend to go the transposition route.

Using a computer scoring program is good -- it may take practice to efficiently
input the music -- a midi keyboard would help enormously.

There is, however, a more mechanical solution that you might find workable.
The transposition is down a fifth i.e. you want to slide the notes two lines
down the staff, or equivalently slide the staff up two lines, then throw in
another flat. (Incidentally, this is the same transpositon done if you want to
play a bass clef part on the bass clarinet, except that in this case you need
to throw in two sharps.)

So how can you slide the staff up?? Approach 1: White out the bottom 2 lines
(on a photocopy!) and draw in the top 2 with pen and ruler. This is not quite
as bad as it sounds, especially if you get some professional white-out and a
brush from an art supply store. Then adjust key signatures and accidentals.

Approach 2, a little more modern!: Scan the music into a computer drawing
program, then do the same as Approach 1. To eliminate lines, you could use an
erase tool or put a white line on top, depending on your drawing program. If
you're good with some drawing program you might make an object with two white
lines and two black lines and fix one staff of music per fell swoop (if your
operating system supports fell swoops).

If you use white-out, you can leave the portions of the bottom 2 lines that
form ledger lines. If you get rid of the entire lines, you need to replace the
ledger lines.

I've done both of these approaches, all the while thinking that I REALLY should
be learning to transpose on sight. However, when I play 'cello music on the
bass clarinet, there's just such a feeling of relief when it switches to tenor
clef(which works out right for the bass after throwing in a few sharps)!

Mark Thiel

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unsubscribe from Klarinet, e-mail: klarinet-unsubscribe@-----.org
Subscribe to the Digest: klarinet-digest-subscribe@-----.org
Additional commands: klarinet-help@-----.org
Other problems: klarinet-owner@-----.org