Possibly A Stupid Question...

[TShara]

I recently ordered the music to three different musicals, and I'm interested in possibly adapting some of the beautiful tenor parts to my voice, even though I am female. 

 

The problem is I don't know how to read them. The parts themselves are written in treble clef, but they seem to be written an octave higher than I am hearing them in the recordings. Are my ears just really bad, or there a convention about male parts being sung an octave lower when transcribed this way?

[john]

Hi

The Tenor voice can be shown in several ways. Older music sometimes has it written on the "Tenor Clef" (one of the positions for a moveable C clef), if accompanying a Bass vocal part, it might be notated on a Bass Clef. When notated on it's own it is now often notated on a Treble Clef, notated an octave above the actual sung part. This can be indicated in several ways, the most common of which is the addition of an "8" at the bottom of the Treble Clef symbol. A less common way is to use a double Treble Clef.

The reason is simple. Music is easier to read within the lines of the stave. If you were reading music that was for the large part based on ledger lines it could be quite awkward to read. Using the solutions I just mentioned, that is avoided.

Cheers

John

[TShara]

I'm familiar with some of this notation from piano music. The problem is that in these musical books, the common symbols aren't there. There's no 8va, and I'm not sure what you mean by a double treble clef. It's just the normal piano part and the voice above it. It's written exactly the same as the corresponding female parts, except with the male-character's name in the beginning of the part. Can that alone be used to assume that it's an octave lower? 

 

I am thinking it can because my ears can't be that off.

 

Thanks for the response by the way.

Edited January 21, 2014 by TShara

[john]

We'll it is normal for it to be moved an octave, but it is also normal for it to be notated with 8va or an 8 at the bottom of the treble clef sign. By double treble led I mean literally that, a staff with two treble clef signs on it.

[TShara]

Never seen the double treble then. But in any case, thanks for the information. :-)

[xdenzleed]

what is your vocal range by the way?

[TShara]

I've never had formal training, and only just started voice lessons. I think I could increase it if I were "singing correctly" ... but currently it's strong in about F3 to A5.

 

Given the right conditions (the right scales, not being sick even the slightest bit, the weather being good, the elves smiling on me...) I can reach as low as about D3 and as high as about C6. 

 

I'm hoping to improve that as I have more training, especially with regard to getting into the "head voice." 

 

For the record, it's less that I care about my range and more that there are so many awesome songs to sing in their original key.

[xdenzleed]

Fantastic someone who actually knows they're octaves (sorry I'm use to the fact that people simply refer to it as "this many" off middle C). Anyway you sound like your a contralto so hitting those notes should be fine for you, are you listening to the song/songs from cd's or live recordings?

[TShara]

The stuff that's easiest for me is more mezzo soprano. Admittedly I'm a bit weaker in the lower notes. As in, I can hit them but it sounds like I'm trying to fill shoes that are too big and finally reaches the point that I'm not singing a note anymore, just talking. Then in the really high stuff I'm fine until my voice just cracks and says "F- this shit."

 

My current range is rather frustrating actually, because it works for neither Christine nor the Phantom in Phantom of the Opera. :-) The Phantom has this frustrating A2 at the beginning of Music of the Night, and Christine has her insane almost screaming high notes at the end of the title song.

 

I use both live recordings and studio recordings, depending on what I can find and what I think sounds the best. There's also the tried and true method of "just banging out the melody line on the piano." 

[xdenzleed]

Ok I asked about the live recordings as they might of transposed it for that actor. I remember trying to sing Gerard Butlers parts and failed miserably XD then I found out I am a bass baritone in any case your vocal range should expand with warm ups and practice. Lol sorry for going off topic