What instrument is an “alto” string part in a score?
In the music score below, the bottom five parts seem to be string parts. We think the first two are violins, the last is string bass, and the second-last is cello. But what is the third-last? Is it a viola? We understand the clef is an older-style C-clef (alto or viola clef).
terminology instruments orchestral-strings
asked 2 hours ago
LarsH
21218
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In the music score below, the bottom five parts seem to be string parts. We think the first two are violins, the last is string bass, and the second-last is cello. But what is the third-last? Is it a viola? We understand the clef is an older-style C-clef (alto or viola clef).
terminology instruments orchestral-strings
asked 2 hours ago
LarsH
21218
add a comment |
In the music score below, the bottom five parts seem to be string parts. We think the first two are violins, the last is string bass, and the second-last is cello. But what is the third-last? Is it a viola? We understand the clef is an older-style C-clef (alto or viola clef).
terminology instruments orchestral-strings
asked 2 hours ago
LarsH
21218
In the music score below, the bottom five parts seem to be string parts. We think the first two are violins, the last is string bass, and the second-last is cello. But what is the third-last? Is it a viola? We understand the clef is an older-style C-clef (alto or viola clef).
terminology instruments orchestral-strings
terminology instruments orchestral-strings
asked 2 hours ago
LarsH
21218
asked 2 hours ago
LarsH
21218
asked 2 hours ago
LarsH
21218
asked 2 hours ago
LarsH
21218
asked 2 hours ago
LarsH
21218
21218
add a comment |
add a comment |
2 Answers
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Yes, Alto = Viola. It's the French name for the instrument, and the score shown is a part of 'Carnival of the Animals' by the French composer Camille Saint-Saëns.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Carnival_of_the_Animals#XII_%22Fossiles%22_(Fossils)
The other instrument names are easily recognisable. Note that Bb Clarinet is 'Clarinette en SIb'. The French write the scale as do, ré, mi, fa, sol, la, si, do rather than C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C. In German it would be "Klarinette in B'. In Germany, 'B' is 'Bb', 'H' is 'B'. Apart from confusing foreigners, this has the advantage of letting German composers write fugues based on 'BACH'.
Alto clef is the standard clef for viola music. A particularly high passage might move into treble clef. But mostly they live in alto clef.
answered 56 mins ago
Laurence Payne
31.3k1456
add a comment |
Yes it is a part written for a viola. Because of their range the alto cleft is a very viable choice for the viola and is common in scores like this for string quartets or quintets.
Here is a string quintet example from Instrumentation and Orchstartion where the viola is marked va.
answered 2 hours ago
Dom♦
35.4k18101217
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2 Answers
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2 Answers
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Yes, Alto = Viola. It's the French name for the instrument, and the score shown is a part of 'Carnival of the Animals' by the French composer Camille Saint-Saëns.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Carnival_of_the_Animals#XII_%22Fossiles%22_(Fossils)
The other instrument names are easily recognisable. Note that Bb Clarinet is 'Clarinette en SIb'. The French write the scale as do, ré, mi, fa, sol, la, si, do rather than C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C. In German it would be "Klarinette in B'. In Germany, 'B' is 'Bb', 'H' is 'B'. Apart from confusing foreigners, this has the advantage of letting German composers write fugues based on 'BACH'.
Alto clef is the standard clef for viola music. A particularly high passage might move into treble clef. But mostly they live in alto clef.
answered 56 mins ago
Laurence Payne
31.3k1456
add a comment |
Yes, Alto = Viola. It's the French name for the instrument, and the score shown is a part of 'Carnival of the Animals' by the French composer Camille Saint-Saëns.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Carnival_of_the_Animals#XII_%22Fossiles%22_(Fossils)
The other instrument names are easily recognisable. Note that Bb Clarinet is 'Clarinette en SIb'. The French write the scale as do, ré, mi, fa, sol, la, si, do rather than C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C. In German it would be "Klarinette in B'. In Germany, 'B' is 'Bb', 'H' is 'B'. Apart from confusing foreigners, this has the advantage of letting German composers write fugues based on 'BACH'.
Alto clef is the standard clef for viola music. A particularly high passage might move into treble clef. But mostly they live in alto clef.
answered 56 mins ago
Laurence Payne
31.3k1456
add a comment |
Yes, Alto = Viola. It's the French name for the instrument, and the score shown is a part of 'Carnival of the Animals' by the French composer Camille Saint-Saëns.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Carnival_of_the_Animals#XII_%22Fossiles%22_(Fossils)
The other instrument names are easily recognisable. Note that Bb Clarinet is 'Clarinette en SIb'. The French write the scale as do, ré, mi, fa, sol, la, si, do rather than C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C. In German it would be "Klarinette in B'. In Germany, 'B' is 'Bb', 'H' is 'B'. Apart from confusing foreigners, this has the advantage of letting German composers write fugues based on 'BACH'.
Alto clef is the standard clef for viola music. A particularly high passage might move into treble clef. But mostly they live in alto clef.
answered 56 mins ago
Laurence Payne
31.3k1456
Yes, Alto = Viola. It's the French name for the instrument, and the score shown is a part of 'Carnival of the Animals' by the French composer Camille Saint-Saëns.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Carnival_of_the_Animals#XII_%22Fossiles%22_(Fossils)
The other instrument names are easily recognisable. Note that Bb Clarinet is 'Clarinette en SIb'. The French write the scale as do, ré, mi, fa, sol, la, si, do rather than C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C. In German it would be "Klarinette in B'. In Germany, 'B' is 'Bb', 'H' is 'B'. Apart from confusing foreigners, this has the advantage of letting German composers write fugues based on 'BACH'.
Alto clef is the standard clef for viola music. A particularly high passage might move into treble clef. But mostly they live in alto clef.
answered 56 mins ago
Laurence Payne
31.3k1456
answered 56 mins ago
Laurence Payne
31.3k1456
answered 56 mins ago
Laurence Payne
31.3k1456
answered 56 mins ago
Laurence Payne
31.3k1456
31.3k1456
add a comment |
add a comment |
Yes it is a part written for a viola. Because of their range the alto cleft is a very viable choice for the viola and is common in scores like this for string quartets or quintets.
Here is a string quintet example from Instrumentation and Orchstartion where the viola is marked va.
answered 2 hours ago
Dom♦
35.4k18101217
add a comment |
Yes it is a part written for a viola. Because of their range the alto cleft is a very viable choice for the viola and is common in scores like this for string quartets or quintets.
Here is a string quintet example from Instrumentation and Orchstartion where the viola is marked va.
answered 2 hours ago
Dom♦
35.4k18101217
add a comment |
Yes it is a part written for a viola. Because of their range the alto cleft is a very viable choice for the viola and is common in scores like this for string quartets or quintets.
Here is a string quintet example from Instrumentation and Orchstartion where the viola is marked va.
answered 2 hours ago
Dom♦
35.4k18101217
Yes it is a part written for a viola. Because of their range the alto cleft is a very viable choice for the viola and is common in scores like this for string quartets or quintets.
Here is a string quintet example from Instrumentation and Orchstartion where the viola is marked va.
answered 2 hours ago
Dom♦
35.4k18101217
answered 2 hours ago
Dom♦
35.4k18101217
answered 2 hours ago
Dom♦
35.4k18101217
answered 2 hours ago
Dom♦
35.4k18101217
35.4k18101217
add a comment |
add a comment |
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