Somewhere Duet

[JaneLewis]

Thanks Walt

Your file plays as I would expect pitch-wise and is lovely.

However, I would have expected the soprano line (your alto I) to have been written on the score an octave lower with the treble clef showing an octave up (the little 8 at the top of the clef). This avoids all the upper ledger lines and would mean that the first note for the soprano recorder would be written as a middle C although it would sound an octave up.

I took your file and clicked on the Alto I treble clef at the beginning and went through the options that came up. I picked the one with the little 8 at the top and it corrected the score without altering the pitches … so problem solved!

The Alto II line is correctly shown and plays correctly for the treble/alto recorder.

I re-attach your score J

Many thanks, Jane

[aulos43]

Jane,

Of course I uploaded the wrong file.

I get to cranking out various versions of a file, and even though I've got a naming convention, I still get them mixed up more than occasionally. That file is actually intended as an alto duet, though the melody spends most of its time in the challenging range. (I've been working through some of the exercises in "The Charlton Method for the Recorder" by the late Andrew Charlton, so I may be a bit desensitized to seeing so many ledger lines -- even though I still have a heck of a time playing up there with any musicality.)

Attached is the version I intended to share. It is for soprano and alto -- and is essentially identical to your 'retransp' version.

Walt

[aulos43]

Ralph,

I'm enjoying this discussion. I've been away from writing for recorders for a while -- focusing most recently on transcribing proto-classic symphonists from scores in the IMSLP. So this is turning into a valuable re-acquaintance with the issues and techniques of scoring recorders -- plus I'm gaining more proficiency with Notation Composer.

Yes, the lower register can be pleasing, especially in small groups of recorders. This "Somewhere Duet" reminds me of some of the pieces in a book of intermediate-level alto duets by Hans Ulrich Staeps, "Zu zweien durch den Tonkreis" (copyright 1951), and he does not avoid the lower range.

As a further exercise, I've transposed your duet yet again, this time putting the accompaniment as low as possible on the tenor recorder -- getting lots of practice with slur manipulations. This results in a tenor duet, though the melody could be played on soprano. The key signature of Ab results in a low Db, which is not readily available on some tenors. Anyhoo, it sounds nice in NC.

Walt

[JaneLewis]

Hi Walt and Ralph

I have lots of versions of Somewhere Duet now!

This last one for 2 tenor recorders is interesting. Apart from the fact that I am a beginner and cannot manage a key signature with 4 flats (and haven't reached the top notes yet!), there is only one note below the range of the alto recorder in the Tenor I line, as written. Unfortunately it is the very first note!

I have now also acquired a tenor recorder but have put learning this on hold because the fingering is different and I need to become more proficient on the alto recorder first. However, I love the lower register and have big hands and think that I will be able to manage a tenor (eventually). I am wondering if I should have started with the tenor because the fingering is the same as the descant(soprano) recorder.

I am having great fun with music - I just wish I had more time and could learn faster!

The different terminology, which I presume is due to the geographical difference between us, sometimes catches me out. I know the soprano recorder as a descant, the alto as a treble. And Notation Software has lots of unfamiliar terminology which makes using Help difficult! I first learned an instrument 60 years ago and in all those years had never come across the term 'measure' until I started to use Notation Software. Measures have always been 'bars' before! But it is good for keeping the grey matter going, especially the lateral thinking required to use Help when it doesn't understand my terminology.

I will keep the duet for 2 tenors for later

Many thanks for all your posts and duets.

Jane
P.S. Yes, one does get lots of practice re-shaping/re-aligning slurs when doing transpositions. I didn't bother last time