Re: [Best Practices] instrument changes

[Janek Warchoł]

2011/7/3 Gilles Sadowski <address@hidden>:
>
>> I don't write much music for transposing instruments, so i cannot give
>> any advice, but i have a question that may trigger a discussion: how
>> to prepare scores with transposing instruments so that they are
>> structurally correct? Consider this canon:
>>
>> common = {
>>   \key e \minor
>>   \time 4/4
>> }
>> melody = \relative c' {
>>   e4 d8 fis e4 b |
>>   e8 e fis fis g a16[ g] fis4 |
>>   b8 b a a g a16 g fis8 b, |
>>   e4 d8 fis e2
>> }
>> <<
>>   \new Staff = violin { \common \melody R1 }
>>   \new Staff = "clarinet in A" \transpose a c' { \common R1 \melody }
>> >>
>>
>> If i understand how transposing instruments should be notated, the
>> output is how it should look like from a performer's point of view.
>> However, it is structurally wrong: for example MIDI output will be
>> bad, because internally the two parts have differently pitched
>> melodies (while they should be pitched the same and only displayed
>> differently).
>> What is the correct way of doing this?
>
> Something along those lines:
>
> If the source contains notes in concert pitch:
> ---CUT---
>   \new Staff = "clarinet in A" {
>     \transposition a {
>       \transpose c a {
>         <<
>           \common
>           \melody
>         >>
>       }
>     }
>   }
> ---CUT---
>
> If the source contains notes written for the instrument in A:
> ---CUT---
>  \new Staff = "clarinet in A" {
>    \transposition a {
>      \transpose c a {
>        <<
>          \common
>          \transpose a c {
>            \melody
>          }
>        >>
>      }
>    }
>  }
> ---CUT---

Wow, looks complicated - but seems to do the job!
Perhaps it would be good to simplify this as a part of GLISS.

thanks,
Janek