Brass Band & Treble Clefs

[iiipopes]

Actually, the system was not developed with switching players in mind. Since it came basically out of working class environments as a way to give workers a hobby and esprit de corp, it developed as a way to teach them all the fundamentals of playing in a group setting, as private lessons were basically non-existant, and the teacher was usually the guy who just learned last year before a new group of workers was taken on.

[Chuck(G)]

Actually, the system was not developed with switching players in mind. Since it came basically out of working class environments as a way to give workers a hobby and esprit de corp, it developed as a way to teach them all the fundamentals of playing in a group setting, as private lessons were basically non-existant, and the teacher was usually the guy who just learned last year before a new group of workers was taken on.

The other benefit is that you can use the same method books across the entire range of instruments. (Well, maybe the trombones need something special).

Literally, Arban's for everyone.

[Dean E]

. . . . 3) The convention for playing Eb brass band tuba parts written in transposed treble clef for those who only read concert pitch bass clef is to write a bass clef sign over the treble clef sign and add three [edit - strike sharps] flats to the key signature. This works for any tuba, since tuba players read bass clef concert pitch in the USA, regardless of the pitch of the instrument.
4) Euph, trombone & BBb bass are more tricky. It's better just to learn to read treble clef with a fingering or position chart at hand. . . .

Am I getting this? Is this an accurate summary?

Sheet music for brass band (which I believe is also known as world music) comes with separately printed parts for differently keyed tubas. In other words, brass band musicians use the same fingerings for any key tuba, provided that their printed parts have been transposed for Eb, BBb, or these days maybe even F, CC, or GG. Traditionally, brass band has only Eb and BBb tubas, and parts for tubas in other keys may not be available from publishers.

Non-brass band tubists (whose instruments may be in any key) playing brass band music need to start with an Eb tuba part, which is converted to a bass clef tuba part by adding three flats to the key signature.

[Dan Schultz]

Sheet music for brass band (which I believe is also known as world music) comes with separately printed parts for differently keyed tubas.

Mentions of 'World parts' in the concert band music I've seen lately is the addition of parts written in treble clef that are normally associated with bass clef instruments... such as tubas and trombones. I've not seen different parts for Eb and BBb tubas... just the general term 'basses'.... meaning BBb tubas. I've not seen seperate Eb and BBb tuba parts in music published in the US. Most band directors here in the US don't even know that tubas are made in different keys.

[MaryAnn]

If you happen to also play F tuba and a CC tuba, it's also easy to play the BBb tuba parts in treble. Just read the BBb treble part as if it's in bass cleff using your F fingerings and add three flats. This may be trickly because you'll be playing 1/4 off of the expected pitch but you get used to this pretty quickly.

Ow, now I have a headache. 1/4 off? Yikes. Brass band music in quarter tones! "Trickly" is right. (just teasing...)

Really, I think reading by pitch is easier in the long run than all these fingering manipulations. But I have noticed that few agree with me. For the Bb treble clef part on a CC tuba, or an F tuba... read tenor clef and add two flats, same as for a euph treble clef part. The fingerings go with the pitches, not the other way around.

MA

[iiipopes]

I don't think he meant 1/4, but a musical interval of a 4th.

Tuba Tinker is right: I recently went over to my undergrad to borrow an Eb tuba and the new band director, upon hearing my question, replied, "Eb what?"

Dean E - Yes, it is an accurate summary, although I have never heard the music referred to as "world parts." For example, a middle C on an brass band transposed treble clef Eb tuba part, after changing the clef and adding three flats, is a concert pitch Eb. Since it is a concert pitch Eb, most American tuba players, regardless of which tuba or what style of music they play as primary, are going to be able to play it, because the convention in America, whether band or orchestra, is to write just one tuba part in bass clef concert pitch, and sort it out from there. So the BBb player will use 1st valve, CC will use 23 or some alternate, Eb will use open and F will use 1st valve, as they would do anyway on any normal bass clef part.

[Chuck(G)]

I've been given a mixture of BB flat bass and Eb bass parts (mostly in treble) and will probably opt for the "add flat method" for practice sake, but would it be the same to read the music as a treble baritone or euphonium? Just curious...(Note: I play a BBflat bass)

Yes, for the Bb parts (the fingering stays the same regardless of the instrument). The Eb parts are written for Eb instruments (e.g. tenorhorn, Eb tuba, Eb sop cornet) and you'll have to read those with the "add 3 flats and read in bass clef" method.

[Allen]

Just to add to the overall confusion, I'll mention another transposition. I was given to play a concert band part labeled "Bb tuba" which was written using bass clef, but the notes were a ninth above the pitches to be sounded! I was told that this is standard in some parts of Europe.

[Chuck(G)]

Just to add to the overall confusion, I'll mention another transposition. I was given to play a concert band part labeled "Bb tuba" which was written using bass clef, but the notes were a ninth above the pitches to be sounded! I was told that this is standard in some parts of Europe.

These seem to show up routinely in the set of parts for Low Countries publishers such as De Haske. Of course,the librarian sees "Bb Tuba" on the part and promptly puts it on your stand, right? It's only when you notice that the key signature on your part is different from the bass trombone that you understand that you're really in trouble...

[iiipopes]

One year in high school band camp, when I was still playing mostly trumpet, 20 million trumpets showed up and no euphs. So I volunteered to play euph, probably out of the vanity that I would be listed a "principal" as much as anything, and they fixed me up with a standard King 3-valve front baritone. But having marched with a souzy and having had a few years of classical piano, I could read both clefs. So when they passed out parts and asked if I wanted bass or treble clef, I said, "Yes!" This confused them greatly. They kept asking which. I finally said to send back both folders and I'd take it from there. It's a good thing I did, because at least one piece with a treble clef part did not have a bass clef part, and vice versa, so by having both I saved a whole bunch of people (including me) a whole bunch of time and frustration by just playing what was in front of me.