I cannot say for sure why early bass clef notation was an octave too low. In
my reading about the history of the horn I do not recall any discussion on
the subject. In my opinion I think that the use of the "old style" notation
occurred originally to notate C below middle C without using many leder
lines. Low C probably was, in the beginning, the only low note the horn
player encounted. So the bass clef symbol became a signal to the player that
it was in fact a low note. Only later did composers and players add
additional notes in the low range and used the old style bass clef, because
it was now familiar to horn players. By the time of Dauprat and Duvernoy the
use of the old style bass clef contained notes from Padal E to as high as B
flat (third line treble clef), probably because it was easier to write the
entire passage in the old style bass clef than to shift back and fourth to
the treble clef.
Other instrument with unusual use of clef include the cello, which for many
years wrote high passages in the treble clef, but an octave too high. String
bass traditionally uses the bass clef, but with the notation an octave
higher than sounding. This is a carry over from the early times when the
celli and bassi were notated on one staff, but intended to play in octaves.
Piccolo, of course is notated an octave below actual sounds, all in the
treble clef. Bass Clarinet notated in the treble clef (but sounding an
octave lower) may be a more recent concept and probably based on use of the
identical fingering from the clarinet. And that, of course is also seen in
brass band publications from Europe where treble clef is used for parts for
tenor horns, baritones, euphoniums, and tubas. Identical fingerings for
identical note simplified classroom teaching of these instruments. Regards.
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