Possibly OT (sorry): MuseScoring Mozart's Serenade #10 in B-flat K361

• Jul 11, 2019 - 04:06

Hi! This is more of a how-to-interpret-the-score-I'm-MS-ing than a Q about MS; I apologize if that makes it too OT, but I don't know where else to ask. The score calls for four "Corni" (French Horns, according to the English title page), "I. II. in F, III. IV. in B basso," but all four parts are in the same clef ("G" treble) and key (C, which isn't correct for a c.p. key of B-flat for either an F-pitched or a B-pitched instrument). How am I to interpret all that? Thanks!

Comments

• Jul 11, 2019 - 05:15

It is common practice to omit key signatures for historically non-valved instruments in classical scores. These include Horns, trumpets and cornets, though there may be others. Set up the horns I & II in the key of F, III & IV in the key of Bb (B is German for Bb) the basso simply means the one in the lower octave in MuseScore (also called horn in Bb basso by the program). To eliminate the key signature, switch to the advanced workspace and use the atonal key signature, the one with a gray X and press ctrl while you drag it to each staff. You will need to redo this if and/or when the key changes.

One other thing to be aware of with the horns, if the horn notation switches to the bass clef, you will need to use the bass clef with the 8 above it to get the correct pitch, otherwise all of the notes will be an octave low and you will notice the low notes will be marked as out of range. They will also sound very poor in quality.

I haven't looked at the Mozart Serenade you're transcribing, but it's possible the clarinet will have the same key signature throughout. If this is the case, you will need to drag the appropriate concert pitch key signature while holding the ctrl key to fix that also. If you continue to transcribe classical scores you will run into other anomalous key signatures. You can ask here and I'll be happy to explain as best I can.

BTW, general discussion is the place to discuss non-MuseScore specific topics such as this so it's not off topic.

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• Jul 11, 2019 - 06:46

Thanks, Mike.

    "It is common practice to omit key signatures for historically non-valved instruments in classical scores. These include Horns, trumpets and cornets, though there may be others. Set up the horns I & II in the key of F,"

Already done

    "III & IV in the key of Bb (B is German for Bb) the basso simply means the one in the lower octave in MuseScore (also called horn in Bb basso by the program)."

Cool, I'll look for that.

    "To eliminate the key signature, switch to the advanced workspace and use the atonal key signature, the one with a gray X and press ctrl while you drag it to each staff. You will need to redo this if and/or when the key changes."

No need, as I'm not intending to print out parts (just export "Music Minus One" performances).

    "One other thing to be aware of with the horns, if the horn notation switches to the bass clef, you will need to use the bass clef with the 8 above it to get the correct pitch,"

Or I can not follow that change of clef (again, no intent to print out parts).

    "I haven't looked at the Mozart Serenade you're transcribing, but it's possible the clarinet will have the same key signature throughout. If this is the case, you will need to drag the appropriate concert pitch key signature while holding the ctrl key to fix that also."

I'm not sure I understand: the score I'm transcribing already has the clarinet parts transposed to the right key, i.e., C, and MuseScore automatically put the clarinet parts in the key of C, so I believe I don't have to do any transposition in transcribing the score parts to MS. (The Fr. horn parts are another matter: the B-flat horns should thus be in the key of C, which is how they're notated, so they might not require any transposition, but the F-horn parts should be in the key of F, but they're not, so that leaves me uncertain as to whether the B-flat horns have already been transposed, or if they're in the key of C due to their "unimportance," as you mention above.)

   "If you continue to transcribe classical scores you will run into other anomalous key signatures. You can ask here and I'll be happy to explain as best I can."

Thanks! (Be ready for the Mozart Clarinet Quintet, KV 581; Schubert Octet, Op. 166; Nielsen Quintet, Op. 43; Schönberg Serenade, Op. 24; Stravinsky Octet, 1952 Rev.; Stockhausen nr. 1 "Kontra-Punkte" for ten instruments; and Musgrave Chamber Concerto No. 3.)

    "BTW, general discussion is the place to discuss non-MuseScore specific topics such as this so it's not off topic."

Thanks. (I wasn't sure b/c the Forum Topics List says that General Discussion is for "Discussing of score writing software and MuseScore"; strictly speaking, I didn't think my Q fell into either of those categories, so thanks for clarifying that Q's about scores one is transcribing into MS are "on topic.")

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• Jul 11, 2019 - 15:23

_ "To eliminate the key signature, switch to the advanced workspace and use the atonal key signature, the one with a gray X and press ctrl while you drag it to each staff. You will need to redo this if and/or when the key changes."
No need, as I'm not intending to print out parts (just export "Music Minus One" performances)._

This was one of your main concerns, how to eliminate the key signature. You need to do this on the horns or they will have key signatures at every key change. A decent playback can tell you how accurate you were in entering notes. People make mistakes and it's quite easy to enter a wrong note.

I looked at the score and see the clarinets are fine and there is no bass clef notation for the horns. I know the era but didn't know the piece. I look forward to hearing the final product.

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