Rock of Ages Clef for me
  • jefe
    Posts: 200
    Having been a professional trombonist my whole life, I was versed in reading clefs as one of the many skills that had to be learned. I became fluent in treble, alto, tenor, treble down an 8va, Bb transposed, F-horn, E-horn, Eb horn (like bass clef up an 8va), D-horn (like a transposed alto clef), bass clef, and of course as a bass trombonist, 8va lower bass clef because I had to. This was not just intervalic sensitivity but actual familiarity with clefs as it pertains to a fixed pitch instrument. Even while getting proficient in Gregorian Chant notation, I just read the position on the staff in what ever clef it starts on. I bemoan the fact that clef reading has pretty much gone by the wayside as archaic and yesterday, with the great staff of treble and bass clefs reining supreme. Even in my pursuit of easy to read music for compline I've 'dumbed down' the notation for our singers. This does make for the one rehearsal quick step but looses some of the old world charm. Attached is a clef heavy little ditty for your once a year amusement.
    jefe
  • canadashcanadash
    Posts: 1,499
    LOVE IT! Thanks!
  • ronkrisman
    Posts: 1,388
    Nice, jefe - but I get my amusement from the Forum discussions many more times than once a year.
    Thanked by 1jefe
  • jefe
    Posts: 200
    Ronk, yes, but this works only on one day; your geburtstag.
    Thanked by 1ronkrisman
  • melofluentmelofluent
    Posts: 4,160
    Ronk

    Sweet. May I borrow?
    Thanked by 1jefe
  • jefe
    Posts: 200
    melo, but of course. There will be a time this year when this will be suitably occlussory.
  • Kathy
    Posts: 5,499
    BEST. THREAD. TITLE. EVER.
    Thanked by 1jefe
  • CHGiffenCHGiffen
    Posts: 5,148
    Maybe I should thank Maria von Trapp?
    23K
  • jefe
    Posts: 200
    There is sort of an asterisk that goes with this opus. During my teaching years I tried to instill a sort of cover if you played the wrong harmonic (brass players call it a clam) on the trombone during a rehearsal. You quickly ascertain what clef the 'clam' could be transposed to and just as quickly announce that, " it just slipped out. I went momentarily into octave higher baritone clef by mistake", or whatever the transposition may be, thus putting the blame on the more palatable clef mistake and not the unsavory plain and defenseless wrong note.
  • vansensei
    Posts: 215
    I can read alto clef if I try very, very hard. Tenor clef is the devil.