The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Matt74
Date: 2021-08-29 01:58
I believe that historically there are two completely different definitions of the key of an instrument.
#1. An instrument is said to be in the key of it’s lowest note. On woodwinds this is usually (xxx|xxx x). If it sounds like concert “F” it’s in “F”, etc. I think this comes from renaissance consorts where you needed a bunch of recorders (or whatever) all pitched about a fourth apart. If memory serves “C”, “F”, and “D” were common.
#2. An transposing instrument is said to be in the key of the concert pitch note sounded when you play a “C”
They amount to the same thing because (xxx|xxx x) is considered “C” on transposing instruments. The only difference is that instead of defining the instrument by the concert pitch note sounded when you play the lowest note, you define it by the concert pitch sounded when you play a nominal “C”. This obscures everything. IMO the choice to transpose parts introduced all sorts of difficulties, for questionable benefits. Calling them by their lowest note makes things much more rational. I think transposition must have started in the 19th c. when they started making band instruments in all sorts of weird keys like Eb. Anthony Baines says some of these weird keys and sizes were intended to allow one instrument to substitute for another - like if you had 20 clarinets and no piccolos or something.
In renaissance music “transposition” of a sort was accomplished by simply moving the clef. The only object was to make the notes fit better on the lines. Instrumentalists were not bound to certain lines and spaces being FACE, etc. The note was determined by the placement of the clef, not the line number, just like chant notation. A “C” was a “C” because of the clef, no matter where it was on the lines. Technically you can put the treble or “G” clef wherever you want. They didn’t have any hang-ups about “A”=440 either.
All clarinetists already learn two sets of fingerings, “C” and “F” because of the overblown 12ths. You can easily play a recorder in “F”. If the clarinet were at concert pitch that would be great. The problem is that the clarinet is a whole step “off”.
The Bassoon is actually in “F” because (xxx|xxx x) plays a concert “F”. Nobody thinks about it that way though, because the parts are written at concert pitch, and for all practical purposes, there’s only one bassoon.
The tin whistle in “D” is actually in “C”. Music is written at concert pitch and fingered normally. (xxx|xxx) sounds like concert “D”. It’s named “D” because it plays a “D” major scale, but it only has six holes (xxx|xxx). If it had 7 (xxx|xxx x) it would be in “C”. It’s a concert pitch instrument. The “C” tin whistle on the other hand could be considered a transposing instrument in Bb. (xxx|xxx) is concert "C". (xxx|xxx x) would sound concert Bb. However, I get the impression that for the most part they play by ear, so (xxx|xxx) is just the first step of the scale.
I you are a clarinetist or recorder player, you could play English horn without a transposed part. It’s in “F”. (xxx|xxx x) sounds concert “F”. Seems like a lot of unnecessary extra work to have the parts transposed.
- Matthew Simington
Post Edited (2021-08-29 08:05)
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Johnny Galaga |
2021-08-27 05:30 |
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Fuzzy |
2021-08-27 06:11 |
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Michael E. Shultz |
2021-08-27 15:02 |
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Paul Aviles |
2021-08-27 16:34 |
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Ed Palanker |
2021-08-27 21:00 |
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kdk |
2021-08-27 21:16 |
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ebonite |
2021-08-27 21:24 |
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kdk |
2021-08-27 22:45 |
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Tom H |
2021-08-27 21:41 |
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davyd |
2021-08-28 19:52 |
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Re: How Come It's A Transposing Instrument? new |
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Matt74 |
2021-08-29 01:58 |
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Johnny Galaga |
2021-08-29 08:36 |
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