Re: template

[Anthony W. Youngman]

In message <address@hidden>, chip <address@hidden> writes
> % ------ Trombone Bass Clef------
> tbonea = {
> % Notes here -----
> a b c d
> }
> trombonea = \relative c {
> \global
> \set Staff.instrumentName = #"Trombone 1"
> \set Staff.shortInstrumentName = #"Tbn 1"
> \clef bass
> << \tbonea >>
> }
>
> % ------ Trombone Treble Clef------
> tboneb= {
> % Notes here -----
> a b c d
> }
> tromboneb = \transpose c d \relative c' {
> \global
> \set Staff.instrumentName = #"Trombone 2"
> \set Staff.shortInstrumentName = #"Tbn 2"
> \clef treble
> << \tboneb >>
> }

It's true for all the other instruments as well ... but as a trombonist 
I've picked that part ...

Firstly it's normal when transposing to put the instrument's pitch in 
the name - so it should be "2nd Bb Trombone" and "1st Trombone". There's 
a very good reason for that - my fellow first trombone might pick up the 
music, think "good, there's a treble part" and play it - a fourth too 
high! (He's got an alto - Eb - trombone).

And the same thing holds true - even more so - for the trumpet group. 
While I'm only aware of a flugel being in Bb, cornets come in at least 
Bb and Eb, and trumpets come in Bb, C, D, Eb and maybe more!

Secondly (and this is a matter of lilypond style, nothing else) I would 
not say "\transpose c d" but "\transpose bf c". Brass instrument 
transposition is always described as "read C, play X" where X is the 
instrument's "natural", or open, harmonic. In other words, "\transpose 
bf c" says "take an instrument that naturally plays Bf (think bugle) and 
write it in the scale of C" (same thing with the natural horn - plays F, 
written as C).

Oh - by the way - NEVER call the "trombone in bass clef" a C trombone. 
IT ISN'T. It's a "Bb trombone in C", but you don't bother with either 
note. The note in front of the name specifies the "natural pitch" of the 
instrument. The note after specifies the transposition which should 
either be the same (in which case you don't bother with it), or C in 
which case you don't bother with either note because you can't guarantee 
what the "natural pitch" is of the instrument that will play it (in the 
case of the trombone it would normally be Bf, but might be G or Ef too).

Cheers,
Wol
--
Anthony W. Youngman - address@hidden