Klarinet Archive - Posting 000651.txt from 2003/03

From: Karl Krelove <karlkrelove@-----.net>
Subj: RE: [kl] Key signatures
Date: Sun, 16 Mar 2003 16:51:46 -0500

Oh, I know, Dan, and I harp on that very point with my elementary school
string players constantly. I call it an "empty" key signature, because they
are most of the time in D Major at the stage when the publishers leave the
key signature blank.

It's splitting hairs in a way that makes me feel as if we're just fencing
for fun (but I'll join the game). To say the parts show the "key signatures
for C Major" seems pointless, if technically correct - they *aren't* in C
Major, they're in the key that results from their transposition from the
"concert" key of the music. Calling it the "key signature for C major" in
this context says that Shostakovitch (or his copyists/editors) placed the
wrong key signatures on these particular parts. Since I have faith that
Shostakovitch (and his editors) knew better, I think an "empty" key
signature is a better description than an "incorrect" one (which C major
would be).

:-)

Karl

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Dan Leeson [mailto:leeson0@-----.net]
> Sent: Sunday, March 16, 2003 3:59 PM
> To: klarinet@-----.org
> Subject: Re: [kl] Key signatures
>
>
> You are right and wrong. The key signatures without accidentals
> indicated are also key signatures, but are key signatures for C major.
> Because a key signature has no indications about which notes are altered
> in performance does not mean that such a thing is not a key signature.
>
> Dan
>
> Karl Krelove wrote:
> > I'm looking at the scores that I happen to have handy for four of his
> > symphonies (1, 5, 9 and 11) and the Age of Gold Ballet Suite.
> All of them
> > are consistent - key signatures for everyone but the French
> horns, trumpets,
> > and timpani.
> >
> > Karl Krelove
> >
> >
> >>-----Original Message-----
> >>From: Gary Van Cott [mailto:gary@-----.com]
> >>Sent: Sunday, March 16, 2003 2:20 PM
> >>To: klarinet@-----.org
> >>Subject: Re: [kl] Key signatures
> >>
> >>
> >>I saw this some time ago in a Shostakovich score. The trumpets
> were also
> >>written that way but the clarinets were in their usual transposed key.
> >>
> >>Gary
> >>++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
> >>+ Gary Van Cott - Van Cott Information Services, Inc.
> >>+ Clarinet, Saxophone, Flute, Double Reed Books and More
> >>+ http://www.vcisinc.com/ --> VISA MasterCard Discover AmExp <--
> >>+ P.O. Box 9569, Las Vegas, NV 89191, USA
> >>+ Phone: 702-438-2102 Fax: 801-650-1719 Email: Gary@-----.com
> >>++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
> >>
> >>At 10:47 AM 3/16/03, you wrote:
> >>
> >>>In the 18th century (and it extends up to today) French horns
> >>
> >>were written
> >>
> >>>that way; i.e., always in written C major with the accidentals
> specified.
> >>>
> >>>Dan
> >>
> >>
> >>---------------------------------------------------------------------
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ---------------------------------------------------------------------
> >
> >
>
>
> --
> ***************************
> **Dan Leeson **
> **leeson0@-----.net **
> ***************************
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>

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