Lesson 2 - Observations

[stevel]

Originally Posted by MaestroX

CHAPTER II

Symbols of Music Defined

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12. A staff is a collection of parallel lines, together with the spaces belonging to them. The modern staff has five lines and six

This should be four spaces obviously.


The definition and discussion above refer more specifically to one of the portions of the "great staff,"


Also called the Grand Staff.








17. The movable C clef or , formerly in very common use, is now utilized for only two purposes, viz., (1) in music written for certain orchestral instruments (cello, viola, etc.) of extended range, in order to avoid having to use too many leger lines; and (2) for indicating the tenor part in vocal music. This latter usage seems also to be disappearing however, and the tenor part is commonly written on the treble staff, it being understood that the tones are to be sung an octave lower than the notes would indicate.


The second symbol here is an old-style C clef. Check Finale and other notation programs for contemporary symbols. Also, this would better read:
Alto Clef (placing Middle C on the middle staff line) is used primarily for Viola, and Tenor Clef (placing middle C on the 4th staff line) is used primarily for extending the upper range of Bass Clef reading instruments, such as Cello, Basson, and Tenor Trombone. Additionally, Tenor Clef is still found in Tenor Vocal parts, but is being replaced by the now more common "Octave down" treble clef [which you can give a symbol for, or explain,etc.]

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Trying to help,
Steve

[ttw]

The G clef is movable too. On the 1st line it is the "French Violin Clef." This show up in some old scores. I think I saw an F clef on some other line in an old score too, but I don't remember where.

[stevel]

Originally Posted by ttw

The G clef is movable too. On the 1st line it is the "French Violin Clef." This show up in some old scores. I think I saw an F clef on some other line in an old score too, but I don't remember where.

Actually, ALL clefs are moveable. All a clef does is merely show you where an F, C or G is to be placed on the staff. In fact, they are SPECIFIC - F3, C4, and G4 (C4 is middle C).

Finale gives you quite a few choices right out of the box for alternate clefs, but by far, the obvious 4 are most common: Treble, Alto, Tenor, and Bass. French Violin is somewhat common and there are things like "Baritone" or "Mezzo-Soprano" clef IIRC - just other positions of the same 3 symbols.

I think it's important to mention the now common Octave Down clef (a Treble clef with a little 8 under it, for Tenor voice, guitar, etc.).

Steve