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When typesetting scores that involve transposing instruments, some parts can be typeset in a different pitch than the concert pitch. In these cases, the key of the transposing instrument should be specified; otherwise the MIDI output and cues in other parts will produce incorrect pitches. For more information about quotations, see Quoting other voices.
\transposition pitch
The pitch to use for \transposition
should correspond to
the real sound heard when a c'
written on the staff is
played by the transposing instrument. This pitch is entered in
absolute mode, so an instrument that produces a real sound which
is one tone higher than the printed music should use
\transposition d'
. \transposition
should
only be used if the pitches are not being entered in
concert pitch.
Here are a few notes for violin and B-flat clarinet where the parts have been entered using the notes and key as they appear in each part of the conductor's score. The two instruments are playing in unison.
\new GrandStaff << \new Staff = "violin" { \relative c'' { \set Staff.instrumentName = "Vln" \set Staff.midiInstrument = "violin" % not strictly necessary, but a good reminder \transposition c' \key c \major g4( c8) r c r c4 } } \new Staff = "clarinet" { \relative c'' { \set Staff.instrumentName = \markup { Cl (B\flat) } \set Staff.midiInstrument = "clarinet" \transposition bes \key d \major a4( d8) r d r d4 } } >>
The \transposition
may be changed during a piece. For
example, a clarinetist may switch from an A clarinet to a B-flat
clarinet.
\set Staff.instrumentName = "Cl (A)" \key a \major \transposition a c d e f \textLengthOn s1*0^\markup { Switch to B\flat clarinet } R1 \key bes \major \transposition bes c2 g
Music Glossary: concert pitch, transposing instrument.
Notation Reference: Quoting other voices, Transpose.
Snippets: Pitches.
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