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Some more questions on my version of Arnold's Brass Quintet

Posted: Fri Jun 30, 2006 10:11 pm
by Water Music
I have the Paterson's Publication edition, and the 2 trumpet parts say they are Bb trumpets, but the key signiature is the same as the Tuba ks, and the same goes with the horn part. Can anybody explain why this is?

Also, the Trombone tenor clef looks pretty weird, and it looks as though there is a sharp sign on the left side of it. Is this just sloppy handwriting or is there a reason for this?

Re: Some more questions on my version of Arnold's Brass Quin

Posted: Fri Jun 30, 2006 10:23 pm
by quinterbourne
Water Music wrote:I have the Paterson's Publication edition, and the 2 trumpet parts say they are Bb trumpets, but the key signiature is the same as the Tuba ks, and the same goes with the horn part. Can anybody explain why this is?
Often composers/arrangers will write with an "atonal" key signature (but this is really not a key signature). Usually this means "in C" - no sharps or flats - usually the piece does not have a defined key (will often cycle through many various keys... if there are any keys at all). So, all instruments are in the same key signature (but you have to understand that there really is no key signature, at least in the classical conventional sense).

So, the trumpet parts are (or at least SHOULD BE) transposed, but they just don't transpose the key signature (because there isn't one). Confused, yet?

EDIT: I am not saying this is true in your case, just a possibility.

Posted: Fri Jun 30, 2006 11:06 pm
by Water Music
Ok, you could be right.

I did put the Tuba part into Finale and I made a misi out of it and played it in a Midi player, and it showed it in Bb. So you may be right.

Posted: Sat Jul 01, 2006 1:18 am
by Water Music
Yup, you're right, because the Trombone part is written in Bb, and the Trumpet parts are in C