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 transposing from Eb to F?
Author: larryb 
Date:   2007-03-31 03:04

I need to read some French Horn parts in Eb on basset horn in F.

Can anyone explain how best to do it? I assume: read one whole tone down, but what accidentals?

Thanks



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 Re: transposing from Eb to F?
Author: bob49t 
Date:   2007-03-31 06:19

I think in half tone steps. (Because that's what my music transposition prog asks me to input.)

Key change also down 2 half tones down.

So, a score written in C(0) > Bb(2b), G(#) > F(b) , D(##) > C(0), A(###) > G(#), Bb(bb) > Ab(bbbb),

Another way to think of it would be from the original score if written in sharps, lose 2, if in flats, add 2.

Poss an amateur way to do it but seems to work ok.

BobT

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 Re: transposing from Eb to F?
Author: Mark Horne 
Date:   2007-03-31 08:07

This is fairly common for french horn players in concert band as certain older pieces (especially marches) sometimes only have parts written for Eb alto horns. My approach has always been to play one full step below whatever is written on the page and not be too concerned about the difference in key. The F instrument will have two more flats or two less sharps than the Eb instrument.

If you are reading an orchestral part, the Eb horn part will appear to be in the key of C - so when you see a written C play a Bb; a written F will be an Eb for you. Another advantage for older orchestral music (mid 18th century and earlier - before valves were commonly used) is that the horn parts tend to be simpler and notes generally follow the open horn harmonics - written C,E,G - so it should be a piece of cake on the basset

Mark



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 Re: transposing from Eb to F?
Author: larryb 
Date:   2007-03-31 10:54

thanks, that was very helpful. I was getting confused.

And since it is older music, the parts do look easy to sight transpose.



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 Re: transposing from Eb to F?
Author: Ken Shaw 2017
Date:   2007-03-31 13:49

When I've played Eb horn parts, I've done it on the Bb clarinet using C (sax) fingerings in the low register.

Ken Shaw

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 Re: transposing from Eb to F?
Author: Don Berger 
Date:   2007-03-31 18:57

Ken brings up that interesting transposition method which relates to the similarity-identity of fingerings of the alto sax/Bb clarinet [also the bari sax/bass clarinet] in their lowest registers. For me, the single-note trans. to play C-written music on a Bb inst [which is the same for playing F-written music on an Eb inst] is easy, raise one note, add 2 #'s. The reverse [LarryB] one note lower add 2 b's. I have more difficulty in the 4th/5th trans. for reading Bb-Eb [or F-C] or reverses, but try and "feel" it out.. Don

Thanx, Mark, Don

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 Re: transposing from Eb to F?
Author: Terry Stibal 
Date:   2007-03-31 21:18

What you ate talking about is the nifty "register key" transposition method, and it work in both directions. You can either read the Eb part and finger it like the same register only without the register key, or read it as if it's in the other register only with the register key, and things transpose out.

There is a bit of thinking needed around the break, but once you do it for a while it becomes second nature. You also occasionally need to figure out if you are in the correct register.

leader of Houston's Sounds Of The South Dance Orchestra
info@sotsdo.com

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