transpose error changing key signature
Transposing a piccolo part from Db piccolo to C piccolo = up 1/2 step. The score has several changes of key. All but two of them are made correctly. E.g., at measure 1 the key is correctly transposed from D to Eb and the notes are changed correctly. At two places the key signature is not correct (but the notes are changed correctly). At measure 11 in the original the key changes to C. In the transposed version the notes are changed correctly but the key signature, which should be moved from C to C#/Db, is left in C. The same thing happens at measure 132. The key signature should be changed from C to C#/Db, but it is left unchanged. In both cases in the original the change of key is indicated by "natural" marks, indicating that the sharps in the preceding section are being dropped. The program fails to recognize this as meaning "back to C" In other places the program does recognize the meaning of the natural marks. E.g., at 200 in the original the key goes from F# (six sharps) to A by dropping three sharps. The program recognizes this and correctly changes the key signature to Bb. I hope this is some help.
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| Porgy and Bess Db Piccolo.mscz | 44.21 KB |
| Porgy and Bess C Piccolo.mscz | 44.21 KB |
Comments
This is because these were not entered as "C major" key signatures (the second-to-last key signature on the palette - it looks blank, like a normal C major key signature). They were instead entered as "Open/Atonal" key signatures (the last key signature on the palette - it shows with an "X" through it. The whole point of the open/atonal key signature is that it *not* supposed to be transposed no matter what - it should appear with no flats or shaprs regardless of transposition. As the name implies, it is intended for music that is not in any key at all.
If you want a regular C major key signature, simply replace the open/atonal one in your score with the regular C major one. Then it will transpose normally.
BTW, is there a reaosn you aren't taking advantage of the built-in transposition feature? If you had created the score for Db piccolo originally, you should be able to simply press the "Concert Pitch" button and have it toggle back and forth betwene written and sounding pitch no need to ever manually to a Transpose command, and definitely no need to save separate copies of the score. It looks like you actually created this score for piano.
Thanks Mark. I didn't realize there was a difference. One of our flute/piccolo players has the Db piccolo part & couldn't find the part for C piccolo. I had to start from the part for Db piccolo & transpose it so I could give her the transposed part.
In reply to Thanks Mark. I didn't by Mike Wogan
For the record, then, the best way to have gone about this would have been:
1) create new score for Db piccolo
2) verify Concert Pitch is turned *off* (it normally would be)
2) enter notes as written
3) turn Concert Pitch *on*
No need for any transpose dialogs - the part would automatically be rendered at concert pitch. Or, if she wanted to play on Eb clarinet (for example), right click the staff, Staff Properties, Change Instrument, and select the desired instrument. The transposition will all be hanled automatically.