Which instrument sounds down a major second plus one octave from written treble?

Study for the Praxis Music Content and Instruction (5114) Test. Prepare with multiple choice questions and materials, complete with explanations and clarifications. Master the content and excel in your exam!

Multiple Choice

Which instrument sounds down a major second plus one octave from written treble?

Explanation:
Transposition is about how a written note becomes a different sounding pitch for an instrument. Down a major second plus one octave equals a major ninth (14 semitones). The bass clarinet in B-flat is written so that its sounding pitch is a major ninth lower than what is written, meaning a written treble note would sound down an octave plus a major second. The oboe sounds at concert pitch (no transposition); the Eb alto clarinet sounds a major sixth lower; the Eb contra alto bass clarinet transposes by a different, larger interval. So the instrument that matches this description is the bass clarinet in B-flat.

Transposition is about how a written note becomes a different sounding pitch for an instrument. Down a major second plus one octave equals a major ninth (14 semitones). The bass clarinet in B-flat is written so that its sounding pitch is a major ninth lower than what is written, meaning a written treble note would sound down an octave plus a major second. The oboe sounds at concert pitch (no transposition); the Eb alto clarinet sounds a major sixth lower; the Eb contra alto bass clarinet transposes by a different, larger interval. So the instrument that matches this description is the bass clarinet in B-flat.

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