I think I have a new goal . . .

[iMav]

I would absolutely LOVE to play with this group.

http://www.madisonbrass.com

Traditional british brass band would be a TON of fun!

[MikeCT]

Originally posted by: iMav I would absolutely LOVE to play with this group. http://www.madisonbrass.com Traditional british brass band would be a TON of fun!

I was interested in the quote from front page of their website that they play almost exclusively from music written in Treble Clef... I wasn't aware of that and wonder if it is typical of traditional British Brass Band music? I've learned to read either but that's a piece of useful info. Even Tenor Trombone?

I saw a Merry Tuba Christmas pic in there... that IS a fun event (where-ever you find one to play)!

Looks like a fun group! Best wishes.

[davewerden]

Every instrument in a British-style brass band reads in transposed treble, except for the bass trombone (there is a history to that, because they previously used G-bass trombones). But even the BBb and EEb tubas have transposed treble clef parts. The tremendous advantage of that is the ease with which players can switch instruments. If a soprano cornet player (Eb) starts to have trouble with the high range, he/she could move to cornet (Bb) or tenor horn (Eb) and just play the same fingerings as always, based on the notes on the page.

Also, I personally find treble clef euph the best choice from the standpoint of the clef's range fitting the instrument's normal playing range (minimize the number of ledger lines). The same applies to the brass band instruments. If you see a written high C, that is going to be roughly as "high" (i.e. "hard) a note on all the instruments.

[jeffo]

Originally posted by: davewerden ...Also, I personally find treble clef euph the best choice from the standpoint of the clef's range fitting the instrument's normal playing range (minimize the number of ledger lines). The same applies to the brass band instruments. If you see a written high C, that is going to be roughly as "high" (i.e. "hard) a note on all the instruments.

I don' know, Dave. From a ledger-line standpoint, I think tenor clef is a much better fit than Bb treble...

[MikeCT]

Originally posted by: davewerden Every instrument in a British-style brass band reads in transposed treble, except for the bass trombone (there is a history to that, because they previously used G-bass trombones) [...] The same applies to the brass band instruments. If you see a written high C, that is going to be roughly as "high" (i.e. "hard) a note on all the instruments.

That is quite cool. Thanks for the info! Nice to know that the British Brass Band folks are not as insane as the orchestral Horn transpositions that change in the middle of a piece! I love the "history" of it, but REALLY, we don't have to have monks hand-transcribe each transposition any more.

Out of curiosity, does it ever switch to Bass Clef when the Euph part gets way low? ...And if it does, do you "stay" in Bb? Do they use 8vb or equivalent or just add ledger lines from hell?

I agree with the thought that Treble Clef would help with the placement of the Euph sound "on the staff" and common transpositions and placement for others instrument switching. I remember being surprised that the Euph was taught with a "fake-C" built-in transposition in Bass clef. Somehow, I'd presumed that Baritone and TC Euph were written because of Bb instruments dominating British Brass band style instrumentation, but was unaware of how far the transcribers had carried the paradigm.

Thanks for opening my mind a bit, Prof. W. (and owie... it hurts!)

[daruby]

Originally posted by: MikeCT

Nice to know that the British Brass Band folks are not as insane as the orchestral Horn transpositions that change in the middle of a piece! Â*

Out of curiosity, does it ever switch to Bass Clef when the Euph part gets way low? Â*...And if it does, do you "stay" in Bb? Â*Do they use 8vb or equivalent or just add ledger lines from hell?

The horn parts transposed in the middle of a number originally because the valveless "Natural" horn player was supposed to change crooks to change the pitch of the horn at that point.

As regards treble clef euph parts in brass bands...they never switch back to bass clef. I played a 4th euph part last summer in Wales written for a euph choir that was down in the pedal range. It was so many ledger lines below the staff that I had to ask Joe Cook (tubist with Black Dyke) to tell me what the notes were.

I have played duets with some really fine brass band euphers. While many also read bass clef, quite a few terrific players (particularly old school) do not.

Doug

[MikeCT]

Originally posted by: darubyAs regards treble clef euph parts in brass bands...they never switch back to bass clef. I played a 4th euph part last summer in Wales written for a euph choir that was down in the pedal range. It was so many ledger lines below the staff that I had to ask Joe Cook (tubist with Black Dyke) to tell me what the notes were.

I am inordinately amused by the thought of all the ledger lines... I already thought it was getting silly above the Bass Clef when I started learning Euph... Somehow I can clearly "see" 5 lines, but beyond that it is still a "calculation" for me... not helpful when sight-reading I'm glad you got to play with anyone from that crew (Black Dyke)! A Euph quartet would be an awesome sound.Thanks for the insight!