[Trombone-l] Alto Clef

[Tom Izzo]

Bill, and all,


--- Bill Dinwiddie <billdin at comcast.net> wrote:

> Mike Irwin said:
> 
> "But I have never seen or heard of an alto clef."
> 
> Mike, the alto clef is one of a group of clefs
> called "C Clefs". That is, 
> the line where the two parts of the clef meet is
> always the note C. The two 
> most common C clefs are: the Tenor clef (where the
> line that would be the D 
> line in treble clef) is middle C on the piano. The
> other common C clef is 
> the Alto clef (where the line that would be the B
> line in treble clef) is 
> middle C. There are other C clefs too: mezzo-soprano
> clef, and I forget the 
> other ones. Hopefully, neither of us will ever see
> another C clef other than 
> the ones I have just talked about.
> Alto clef is sometimes used for the 1st trombone
> part in a symphony 

plus Viola, Cello, Bassoon, & ocassionally 2nd
Trombone & "crazy" guys like Shostokovitch, et all,
:-)
would even write Bass Trombone parts in Alto Clef.

> orchestra parts and Tenor clef is often used for the
> 2nd trombone. The bass 
> clef that we are used to seeing is actually part of
> the "F clef" system, 
> where the two dots tell us what line is the note F.

F below middle C.
Treble Clef (and the now extinct Violin Clef) are G
Clefs--G above middle C.

> I believe there is a an 
> F clef called the baritone clef. 

The Baritone Clef may be writen in F Clef(2 dots
around middle line) or in C clef ("K" on top line)
 
Maybe we can ask
> one of our 
> orchestra-oriented brethren to expand upon the clef
> system and why we need 
> to use it anyway.

Treble, Soprano, Mezzo-Sopeano, Alto, Tenor, Baritone,
Bass, and Extinct Violin.

Logically. Treble (middle C on line below staff), Bass
(line above staff), & Alto (yes, Alto) (middle C on
middle line), should be able to handle all notes for
everyone! :-)

In Renaissance times, it was even likely you'd see C
Clefs on spaces, not just lines.

Tom

> 
> Hope this helps,
> 
> Bill Dinwiddie
> billdin at comcast.net
> 
> 
> 
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> 


Tom Izzo
Principal Trombonist, Bristol Renaissance Faire;
Bass Trombonist, West Suburban Symphony Orchestra;
Founding Director, The Naperville Area Trombone Ensemble;
Alto/Tenor/Bass/Contrabass Trombones, Tubas, Euphonium, Bass Trumpet, Electric Bass, Timpani & Percussion.
http://www.Geocities.com/Vienna/Studio/7875/
(630) 858-7832

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