Artistic Song LeadingLesson 6

Copyright 2010 by Jimmy BagwellAs part of the

“ARTISTIC SONG LEADING” Series

THE COMPOUND STAFF 

Modern Praise And Worship songs often utilize, what is commonly referred to as, a compound staff. This is either the articulation of each voice to a different set of lines and spaces or a lead staff above the grand staff. It is common with songs that have a descant or are sung in rounds. A canon is also another type of song that utilizes the compound staff. 

 

Artistic Song Leading (Lesson 6)

 A canon is a Counterpoint composition that employs a melody with one or more imitations of the melody sung after a given duration (e.g. quarter rest, one measure, etc.). The initial melody is called the leader, while the imitative melody is called the follower which is performed in a different voice. The follower must be created from the leader by being either an exact replication of the rhythms and intervals of the leader, or a transformation such as the song “Greatest Command”

Artistic Song Leading (Lesson 6)

A Descant is an ornamental melody or counterpoint sung above a theme. 

Artistic Song Leading (Lesson 6)

A Descant is an ornamental melody or counterpoint sung above a theme. Counterpoint is a musical technique involving the simultaneous sounding of separate musical lines. Each voice is represented on a different staff.

Artistic Song Leading (Lesson 6)

In the example below, we see three representations of how each voice is fixed, each on a different staff. We also notice the use of modified clef signs.

or

  

The modified treble clef(s) places “G” on the second line below “Middle “C”. Middle “C” occupies the third space.

Artistic Song Leading (Lesson 6)

Occasionally you may run into different or strange looking clef symbols. Sometimes high male pitches are represented on a staff defined with a C Clef.  The C Clef on the left is mostly used for instruments; the one in the middle (see“Modified Treble Clef”) is used more now than the one on the right. 

Artistic Song Leading (Lesson 6)

The names for the degrees on the C Clef staff are the same as those for the G Clef staff. The actual pitches represented are different however. The pitches of the G Clef staff are higher than those of the C Clef staff. 

Artistic Song Leading (Lesson 6)

The “C Clef” places “Middle C” on the third space. This version of the Compound Staff is rarely used. You may occasionally find the C Cleff in older books or used in songs written for male quartets. 

Artistic Song Leading (Lesson 6)