Klarinet Archive - Posting 000435.txt from 2003/04

From: Tony@-----.uk (Tony Pay)
Subj: [kl] Bass Clarinet notation
Date: Sat, 26 Apr 2003 00:36:11 -0400

On Sat, 12 Apr 2003 08:41:23 -0700, leeson0@-----.net said:

> Joseph Wakeling wrote:
>
> > Gary Truesdail said:
> >
> > > Bass Clarinet parts just should not be written in treble clef.
> > > Right!!
> >
> > This is ridiculous. The use of treble clef for bass clarinet
> > notation makes perfect sense---notation corresponding to the
> > fingerings for the instrument, rather than the pitch. It's the
> > whole point of a transposing instrument---one notation for the whole
> > family.
>
> Well it all depends on your perspective to determine how ridiculous
> this is.

I think Joe just wanted to say that it wasn't immediately clear that
treble clef was *wrong*, as per Gary's post; and I think I agree with
Joe that choosing the treble clef option does make as much sense as any
of the others.

> The b.c. plays low a great deal of the time and this involves a lot
> of ledger lines in treble clef. Putting the material in b.c. and
> adjusting the thinking eliminates a lot of ledger lines. It's [a]
> printing problem.

These are the disadvantages of the treble clef notation, sure.

> But the fact that several different very cultivated civilizations have
> developed three different techniques for writing for the instrument,
> there must be a rational response other than the suggestion that it's
> all ridiculous.

The rational response to the difficulty is, I think, the same as the
rational response to the complaint that going to different countries is
often a nuisance, because you have to get used to some things -- like
the fact that they speak a different language -- that from the
traveller's self-centred point of view, didn't *have* to be different;-)

Tony
--
_________ Tony Pay
|ony:-) 79 Southmoor Rd Tony@-----.uk
| |ay Oxford OX2 6RE http://classicalplus.gmn.com/artists
tel/fax 01865 553339

.... FANATIC: one enthusastic about something you don't care about.

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Klarinet is supported by Woodwind.Org, http://www.woodwind.org/