Music Composition DUMmIES

on the staff itself, but the chords and major and minor keys all have different

names. Because the majority of classical music has been written in non-

English-speaking countries, there’s a good chance this will happen a lot.

This can especially be the case with a multi-instrumental score that changes

key mid-score, where writing one “Sol (G)” in the blank space between staffs

in the middle of the page, right where the key change happens, is quicker

than changing every key signature for every single instrument on every

single staff (such as in many of Tchaikovsky’s orchestral scores). It’s also

handy when reading older folk music scores or working with European folk

music ensembles that use different symbols for their lead sheets.

Table 19-1 shows a simple chart of note names to help you cross the language

barrier more easily.

& &? &? &? &

#

#

c c c c c c c c

Baritone (B.C.)

Oboe

Bb Clarinet

Violin

Contrabass

Piano

Soprano Sax.

∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑

∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑

∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑

[Title]

[Composer]

Figure 19-11:
Finale
presents the
proper blank
sheet music
for multiple-
voice
composition.

Chapter 19: Composing for Other Musicians 249