This symbol is on a clarinet etude sheet, but I don't have any clue what it means.
-
3And who is the particular composer?– TimCommented Jul 11, 2022 at 10:10
-
1If it's clarinet, then the key signature would help, because all those notes (B/C/C#/F/F#)use similar keys, and it may be possible to deduce the meaning from how each note should be fingered.– Andrew LeachCommented Jul 11, 2022 at 10:21
-
1Thanks. The bit of the key signature which is visible suggests the piece is in E and those notes are B, C#, B and F#. I don't think it's a fingering thing, particularly since it also occurs in bar 3. There are all sorts of funny symbols I've never seen before.– Andrew LeachCommented Jul 11, 2022 at 10:43
-
5Please add the title and composer.– AaronCommented Jul 11, 2022 at 13:21
-
5As far as I know, this is not a common and standardized musical symbol, and probably has been invented by this author and explained somewhere in the text, perhaps an introduction to the book. There are several non-standard symbols: the triangle with a dot in the center, the small notes that look like 8th notes (quavers) with hollow noteheads, the numerals like "25" or "89" in italics. If you've gotten this etude out of context, like as a photocopy or pdf, I recommend finding the original publication.– Andy BonnerCommented Jul 11, 2022 at 14:42
|
Show 7 more comments
2 Answers
This music comes from Carl Baermann's Vollständige Clarinett Schule (Complete Method for Clarinet), Book 2 (Op. 64). The photo in the question is of the 5th study, Mein Liebster Gedanke (My Dearest Thought).
Op. 64 gives no information as to what any of the symbols mean (which is probably where OP's confusion stemmed from) but it does mention that Op. 63 provides an explanation. The original German text of Op. 63 mentions the following:
Bei den beiden Tönen Fis und Cis ist nebst dem was von F und C gesagt besonders zu bemerken:
a) dass beide Töne auch durch die Aushebung, welche mit dem Daumen der rechten Hand gegriffen wird, genommen werden können, welches in vielen Fällen sehr erleichtert, namentlich in ähnlichen Stellen wie z. B.:
etc.
Bei dieser Stelle wird von dem ersten H die Aushebung genommen und den ganzen Takt liegen gelassen. Das Zeichen für die Aushebung ist
und bleibt so lange giltig bis das Zeichen
eintritt.
... which translates as:
In addition to what was said about F and C, the two tones F sharp and C sharp should be noted in particular:
a) that both tones can also be taken by the key which is played with the thumb of the right hand, which in many cases makes it much easier, especially in similar passages such as:
At this point the key is taken from the first B and left down for the whole bar. The sign for the key is
This key is not present on modern clarinets.
Op. 63 and Op. 64 are available on IMSLP.
-
Very interesting! Do you know why that key no longer exists on clarinets? Commented Oct 6 at 18:31
The marks are a prompt to keep the r/h fingers down when crossing the break.
