Posted by dave on April 25, 2003 at 12:25:54:
I have a quintet by Jerome Naulais, published by Alphonse Leduce et Cie, which has the
somewhat strange characteristic of having two tuba parts: one for Tuba en Sib, and the
other for Tuba en Ut (ou Trombone Basse). Both parts are in bass clef, the Sib part being
written a step higher than the Ut part. Both have the same key signature, which is
also a bit strange. At least in the music I am used to, bass clef is never transposed
according to the key of the instrument, and if music does get transposed (e.g. treble
clef parts for British Brass Band music, the key signature changes appropriately).
My guess is that the tuba in Sib part is written for someone playing a BBb tuba who knows
CC fingerings; is that correct? However, I have no idea why the Sib part is not written
with a different key signature, rather than just flatting or sharping individual notes as
needed.
Dave Erickson