Orchestration quiz 2

What is the transposition for Bb Clarinet?

It is written a major 2nd above sounding

What is the transposition for A Clarinet?

It is written a minor 3rd above sounding.

Does the Piccolo transposition?

The piccolo sounds an octave above written.

Does the Contrabassoon transpose?

It sounds an octave below written like contrabass.

Does the flute transpose?

No

Does Oboe transpose?

No

Does Bassoon transpose?

no

What is the transposition for Bb Bass Clarinet??

Down a Major 9th from written.

Flute Info

Names: Flauto (or Flauto Traverso in Italian), Flûte (FR) and Flöte (Gr)

Range: C4 (B3 if b foot)-C7

Lower register: C4-G4. It weak, but luscious. Dynamic increase going down

Middle register: A4-G5. Sweet, but with little carrying power.

High register: A5-G6 Clear and Brilliant aka money register!! It becomes louder as you go up

Super high register: A6-D7. A bit shrill. Why not use a piccolo??

Strengths: agility blend-ability

Weakness: breath, intonation in certain registers

Piccolo Info!

Names: Ottavino or flauto piccolo (Italian. In spoken Italian, ottavino is more common!), Petite Flûte (Fr.), Kleine Flöte (Gr.)

Range: D5-C8

Transposition: up one octave from written!

Low register:d5-g5. Quiet, hauntingly, hollow sound

Middle register: A5-G6. Soft and Mellow.

High register: A6-F7 Bright and Clear. Louder as you go up

Higher register: G7-C8. Shrill

Oboe info

Names: Hautbois (Fr), Hoboe or Oboe (Gr)

Range: Bb3-A6 (pro) and C4-D6 (Student).

Lower register: Bb3-F4. Thick and heavy. Duck sounding. Crescendo as you go down

Middle register: G4-A5 Warm, promineny, reedy, and poignant. Crescendo as you go up.

High register: B5-E6 Thin but clear

Higher register: F6-A6 Pinched and ineffective!

Strengths: distinctive tone, expressive range, fair agilitiy.

Weaknesses Distinctive tone (it sticks out!! especially in lower registers!) and Breath

Effective range: F4-C6!! Money range

English Horn info

Names: Corno inglese (It), Cor anglais (Fr), Englisches Horn (Ger)

Transposition: It is in F! It sounds a fifth below written!

Written Range (assume all pitches here are written not sounding): B3-G6

Lower register: B3-G4. Deep, rich, intense. Money range! Crescendo as you go down

Middle Register: A4-A5. Mellow, reedy, sonorous, Crescendo as you go up!

High: B5-G6. Thin and Pinched

Bb Clarinet/A Clarinet Info

Names: Clarinetto (Italian), Clarinette (Fr), and Klarinette (Gr)

Transpositions: Bb=sounds major second down. A=minor third down

Range(written): E3-A6 (MK says G6)

Lower register: E3-c4. Chalumeau register! It is deep and rich.

Middle register: D4-C5. Beware of throat tones. This is also where the break lives. Do not say around here for too long. It is like the passaggio for singers!

High register: D5-C6. Clarino register. Bright, Incisive, expressive

Higher regoster: D6-A6. Piercing and shrill.

Strengths: dynamic range, trimbral variety

ProblemsL transposition, overuse of the middle register

Bass Clarinet Info

Names: Clarinetto Basso (It.) Clarinette basse (Fr), Bassklarinette (Ger.)

Transposition: Down a major 9th aka Bb down one octave

Range: C3-D6 (written)

Low: C3-C4. Full and Dark.

Middle: D4-C5 Dull

High: D5-C6 Clear

Very High: D6 and above. Do not use.

Bassoon Info!!

Names: Fagotto (It), Basson (Fr), Fagott (Ger.)

Range: Bb1-Bb4

Clefs: uses both bass and tenor clefs.

Lower: Bb1-C3 Pull and rough

Middle: D3-C4 Dull

High: D4-G4 Pale and Soft

Higher: A4-D5 Piercing. Hardly possible

Strengths: neutral tone color, blend-ability, surprising agility

Problems: easily covered

Contrabassoon info

Names: Contrafagotto (It), Contrebasson (Fr), Kontrafagott (Ger),

Transposition: Sound one octave lower than written like double bass!

Range: Bb0-G3. Gets loud as you go down

Low: Bb0-C1 Full and Rough

Middle: D2-C3 Rough and Dismal

High: D3-G3. Do not use! It is so uncommon and other instruments work better!!

Orchestral score order!!!

Flute then Oboe then Clarinet then Bassoon!!

Band Order!!

Flute then Oboe then Bassoon then Clarinet then Saxophone!!