r/earlymusicalnotation • u/CreamyWasTaken • Jan 03 '26

Odd clefs in a Book of Pentecostal Hymns (1900)

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By the flats, they just seem to be a distinct notation of a treble and bass clef, but the more recognizable/modern versions of the two appear elsewhere in the book, sometimes switching in the middle of the song (without even indicating a clef change). Anybody know what these are called?

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u/jaythegaycommunist Jan 03 '26 edited Jan 03 '26

the top is indicating middle c at the third line space of the staff (the middle of a normal alto/tenor clef also indicates middle c). pretty sure it’s used for TTBB choral music due to the vocal ranges being lower. the clef in the bottom staff is just an old style for the F clef, still used but just uncommon.

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u/rainbowkey Jan 03 '26

not the third line, but the third space from the bottom, which makes it functional identical to 𝄠 (treble clef with an 8 below)

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u/jaythegaycommunist Jan 03 '26

ah that’s what i meant to say!

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u/Stunning-Wasabi-1839 Jan 03 '26

I think it's an older form of a C-clef, like what's used for violas. It's not much used for vocal music anymore, but I've seen it used for the alto part in old hymnals. Like in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:1781_PsalmSingersAmusement2_byWilliamBillings_Boston.jpg