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 Transposition help
Author: JamesE 
Date:   2003-03-05 18:38

In our town, we don’t do much orchestral music. This spring, the community chorus is doing Mendelssohn’s Elijah, and they pull in whatever local instrumentalists are available. The clarinet book has many sections for the A clarinet and none of our players can transpose at sight.

So, armed with an excellent 1997 message by Scott Morrow from the archives, and a music notation program from Finale called NotePad (It prints and also transposes to any key, and it’s free!) I am transposing the A parts to Bb.

I am looking for either a pat on the head, or a slap on the wrist. I am pretty sure I have this down correctly, but I want some confirmation before I substantially embarrass myself at the first rehearsal.

In making the transposition, the Bb should play the A parts down one-half tone. Using the program, I am entering the notes in the key for the A clarinet part, then using the program to transpose to the key for the Bb clarinet. For example, an A clarinet part is in the key of Bb major( two flats ), drop this a half tone and you have the key of A major ( three sharps) for the Bb clarinet.

Is this correct? Please pat or slap as needed. Many thanks.



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 Re: Transposition help
Author: AL 
Date:   2003-03-05 18:42

You've got it! [rotate]
AL



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 Re: Transposition help
Author: Ralph G 
Date:   2003-03-05 18:44

Transpose the A clarinet part down one half step to play on the Bb. You've got it correct.

If you can find a recording, try your transposed part along with it to make sure you have it right.u

________________

Artistic talent is a gift from God and whoever discovers it in himself has a certain obligation: to know that he cannot waste this talent, but must develop it.

- Pope John Paul II

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 Re: Transposition help
Author: SgtClarinet 
Date:   2003-03-05 19:00

That sounds good to me. You're on the right path!

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 Re: Transposition help
Author: Don Berger 
Date:   2003-03-05 19:12

We did the Eligah here sometime ago, and I recall having my A and C clars available for those movements, not having tr. software available. Yes, playing A on a Bb calls for "flatting" every note, a trans'd part may be in a lot of #'s !! To play the C parts on Bb, is simpler [for me], play one note higher and add 2 #'s to [or drop 2b's from] the signature. Of course your conductor/choral director may desire all "specified" cls be used, as they have diffs. in tonality. Its great music, have fun! Don

Thanx, Mark, Don

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 Re: Transposition help
Author: Jim E. 
Date:   2003-03-06 04:27

Robert Shaw and Atlanta Symphony and Chorus recorded this in the mid 1990s. It is Telarc #80389. It is a 2 disk recording and as I remember it is not cheap. This is the only recording I know of. I don't know how much it affects the accompianment, but this uses a new edition of the score. There are many textual changes from previous editions such as the Schirmer.

Good luck, I've never played in the orchestra for it, but have sung it a number of times. It's quite exciting and very dramatic. From a singer's point of view, it's not easy.

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