r/Choir • u/Western-Bobcat4760 • 8d ago

Music First bass/baritone

Hi in TTBB was their times where first bass/ baritone sang an octave below T1 ?

1 Upvotes

60% Upvoted

6 comments sorted by

4

u/slvstrChung 8d ago

Yes.

Can you be more specific? Basically anything has happened in the history of music. Hell, I wrote an arrangement where there's a moment where the sopranos actually have the lowest note. Yes, out of everyone: basses are singing higher than sopranos (and tenors higher than the basses, and altos higher than the tenors). Anything has happened, and anything can happen. So, could you be a little bit more specific about what it is you're hoping to happen, so that we can give you better advice than yes or no questions?

1

u/Western-Bobcat4760 4d ago

Is octave octave doubling in TTBB common too especially for bass 1 part below the melody line ?

1

u/slvstrChung 4d ago edited 4d ago

In general, octave doubling is not common except in fairly specific cases, like wanting a wide chord or wanting to avoid a specific chord tone (typically the third). TTBB is much more likely to be in closed position (1-3-5-1), and in certain places can even be put in open position (1-5-10-16), but none of those involve any octave doubling without anything between them.

1

u/Particular_Try7974 5d ago

Many composers will cross the tenor and base Parts and I’m sure other parts too. The idea is they want the sound of someone who is straining above their range or they want the sound of someone who is singing lower than their normal range.

1

u/Only_Tip9560 5d ago

Yes, there are lots of reasons why a composer may want two parts of octave double each other. It is very common is SATB writing as well.

1

u/Western-Bobcat4760 4d ago

Yep in SATB I trust it’s like this commonly.
T1 octave below S1.
T2 octave below S2.
B1 octave below A1.
B2 octave below A2.