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 another transposing question
Author: msroboto 
Date:   2004-03-10 01:16

ok i am in the key of F# major (E Concert) and I want to transpose this to play on the A clarinet where do I begin.

thanks in advance!!!

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 Re: another transposing question
Author: GBK 
Date:   2004-03-10 02:11

On the A clarinet you would be in your key of G major (F concert).

When transposing from Bb clarinet to A clarinet, move everything a half step higher...GBK

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 Re: another transposing question
Author: Douglas 
Date:   2004-03-10 02:52

Sorry GBK, but she should still be in E concert, not F concert. You are correct that she should move the part up a half step higher to play the same music on the A clarinet., as you have said, playing in G major on the A clarinet, but that will keep, correctly, the music in E concert.

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 Re: another transposing question
Author: chuck 
Date:   2004-03-10 03:04

Douglas: the transposition for the clarinet in A to play the piece in E major, the concert key, is correctly stated. Chuck

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 Re: another transposing question
Author: msroboto 
Date:   2004-03-10 04:38

thanks all...

I just had some big fun with Noteworthy and that was pretty cool. I entered these small pieces in F# and transposed to G and it worked awesome.

At least I could understand that what I was seeing the program do was correct.

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 Re: another transposing question
Author: Douglas 
Date:   2004-03-10 13:45

Chuck, GBK had stated that "on the A clarinet you would be in your key of G major (F concert)." I pointed out that the A clarinet part would correctly be in G major, but it would be in E concert, not F concert as GBK stated. My statement stands.

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 Re: another transposing question
Author: sfalexi 
Date:   2004-03-10 13:56

On an A clarinet, the concert key is one and a half steps down from whatever key you are playing in. So G goes down three halfsteps (Gb, F, E) so it's E concert.

Besides, isn't the whole purpose of transposing to change the instrument's key and NOT the concert key? GBK must've accidentally slipped back into the Bb frame of mind when stating the 'new' concert key.

Alexi

US Army Japan Band

Post Edited (2004-03-10 13:57)

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 Re: another transposing question
Author: chuck 
Date:   2004-03-10 15:05

Douglas: You are correct: we are still in E major. Chuck

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 Re: another transposing question
Author: ken 
Date:   2004-03-11 01:47

GBK wrote: On the A clarinet you would be in your key of G major (F concert).

--I believe the defining word here is "your". Interpreting the question literally (as I did) GBK simply and precisely identified the relational pitches and scales when transposing from Bb to A clarinets. However, the question didn't specifically address music or parts so concert pitch is assumed. We can say it's the key of E Major Concert but technically, unless the written page is introduced, there is no less than "one" instrument added to form duet, or instruments are pitched in the same key, concert pitch isn't a compulsory factor. Based solely on pitch and fingerings, one can play unaccompanied on a non-concert pitched instrument and at liberty to name the scale/mode(s) inherent to that horn's harmonic succession.

Colorful supporting anecdote: I read George Gershwin “reportedly” could only play piano, read and compose music in the key of F# Major. He had a piano custom designed and built so the keyboard could ascend in half/whole steps re-assigning pitches to hammers within the harp. He then could instantly transpose and simulate all 12 keys. If true, F# Major really WAS F# Major all the time. Of course one could always argue the point he could also play simultaneously in Gb Major. v/r Ken

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 Re: another transposing question
Author: sfalexi 
Date:   2004-03-11 01:55

Quote:

Colorful supporting anecdote: I read George Gershwin “reportedly” could only play piano, read and compose music in the key of F# Major. He had a piano custom designed and built so the keyboard could ascend in half/whole steps re-assigning pitches to hammers within the harp. He then could instantly transpose and simulate all 12 keys. If true, F# Major really WAS F# Major all the time. Of course one could always argue the point he could also play simultaneously in Gb Major. v/r Ken
THat's some funny stuff! Actually, I have a second cousin a few tousand miles away (in FL), that is in a similar situation. He self-taught himself piano (contemporary) however, at leas the last time I saw him, can only create/transpose songs in two keys. C major (all the white keys) and F#/Gb major (all the black keys). Anything inbetween confuses him! However he can't read piano music so this is all by ear. But very similar to what you wrote above!

Alexi

US Army Japan Band

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 Re: another transposing question
Author: Jeff Forman 
Date:   2004-03-11 02:02

Just to clarify one last bit.... the description of the "key" of the clarinet tells you what note will sound when you play your "C" note. So on a Bb clarinet, if you play the note C and go to a piano, you will find that the note you just played sounds like Bb. Similarly, when you play a "C" note on the A clarinet, it will sound like an A on the piano.

Since your Bb clarient therefore plays two half step below the concert note, whatever the concert key is, you have to go two half steps up to be playing the same key that they are (when playing your Bb clarinet). So you correctly noted that when they are in concert E, in order for you to play in that key on the Bb clarinet, you have to go two notes up....F#.

And since the A clarinet is three half steps below concert, to play with the concert E, you need to go three notes up ... G

Jeff

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