Short Score and Open Score for Voices - Music Theory

Music Matters

20 May 202110:51

EducationalLearning

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TLDRThe video explains the difference between short score and open score in writing music for voices. Short score has two vocal parts per staff, while open score has one vocal part per staff. Short score is good for simple textures like hymn tunes, while open score works better for complex, independent vocal lines. When converting between the two, the soprano, alto and bass clefs stay the same, but the tenor clef changes from bass in short score to treble (written an octave higher) in open score. These distinct notational styles clarify which notes belong to each vocal part.

Takeaways

😀 Short score has 2 voices per staff (soprano/alto in treble clef, tenor/bass in bass clef)
😯 In short score, stem direction ignores typical rules (up for soprano/tenor, down for alto/bass)
🎵 Short score works well for simple textures like hymns and chorales
😕 Open score has each voice on its own staff, allowing more complex textures
🤔 Tenor part changes from bass to treble clef in open score
🎼 Tenor in open score is written an octave higher than it sounds
👍 Little 8 below tenor treble clef means sing an octave lower than written
💡 Converting between short and open score requires clef and octave changes for tenor
😊 Hear example of same hymn tune in both short and open score
📝 Main difference between scores is treatment of tenor voice

Q & A

What are the two types of score discussed in the video?
-The two types of score discussed are short score and open score.
How many vocal parts are written in short score?
-Short score has 4 vocal parts written - soprano, alto, tenor and bass.
How are the vocal parts arranged in short score?
-In short score, the soprano and alto parts are written in the treble clef, while the tenor and bass parts are written in the bass clef.
What is a good use case for short score?
-Short score works well for simple homophonic music like hymns and chorales where the vocal parts move together rhythmically.
Why is open score better for complex polyphonic music?
-Open score is better for complex polyphonic music with vocal lines crossing over because each part is written on its own staff, making it easier to read.
What clef is the tenor part written in for open score?
-In open score, the tenor part is written in the treble clef, unlike short score where it is in bass clef.
Why is the tenor part transposed up an octave in open score?
-The tenor part is written an octave higher in open score to avoid excessive ledger lines and make it easier to read, despite sounding an octave lower.

Outlines

00:00

😀 Introducing the Topic of Short Score and Open Score

The paragraph introduces the topic of short score and open score used in writing music for voices. It explains that short score has two voices per staff, while open score has one voice per staff. A hymn tune example in short score is shown.

05:00

😃 Demonstrating the Same Music in Open Score

The paragraph shows the same hymn tune now written in open score format. It explains when and why open score may be preferred over short score for more complex music. Differences in stem direction rules and clef for the tenor part between the two scores are highlighted.

10:04

😊 Recapping Key Differences Between Short Score and Open Score

The paragraph concludes by recapping and highlighting the key differences between short score and open score, particularly for the tenor part. The same hymn tune example is shown in both short score and open score to illustrate the differences.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡short score

Short score refers to a format of writing music where there are two vocal parts sharing the treble clef staff and two vocal parts sharing the bass clef staff. As explained in the video, short score is commonly used for simple homophonic textures like hymns and chorales where the vocal parts move together rhythmically.

💡open score

Open score is a format where each vocal part is written on its own staff line. As the video explains, open score allows more complexity and independence between vocal parts, so it is used for polyphonic choral music like Handel's Messiah.

💡tenor part

The tenor vocal part presents a key difference between short score and open score. In short score it is written in the bass clef, but in open score it moves to the treble clef at an octave higher than it sounds.

💡clef

The clef is the symbol at the beginning of the staff that assigns pitches to lines and spaces. As the video explains, the tenor part has to change clef from bass in short score to treble in open score.

💡stem direction

The direction stems go on notes (up or down) is a key difference between short score and open score. In short score it is fixed but in open score it follows conventional rules.

💡hymn tune

A hymn tune is provided as an example of music appropriately written in short score. It has simple homophonic texture with the vocal parts moving together.

💡chorale

Chorales are mentioned as another common musical form, along with hymn tunes, that would be appropriately notated in short score due to their homophonic texture.

💡Handel's Messiah

Handel's Messiah is given as an example of choral music that would need to be written in open score because of the complexity and independence of its vocal parts.

💡pitch

Pitch refers to the highness or lowness of a musical note. The video explains that the tenor part has to be written an octave higher in pitch in open score to avoid excessive ledger lines.

💡texture

Musical texture refers to how the melodic, rhythmic, and harmonic materials are combined. The video contrasts homophonic texture like hymns with polyphonic texture like Handel's Messiah.

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Transcripts

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