Vocal music is often written for a combination of 4 voices - Soprano, Alto, Tenor and Bass. It is written in one of 2 ways using either Short Score or Open Score. We have also included the Modern Vocal Score version, which uses all 4 Clefs.
SHORT SCORE (also called Compressed or Condensed Score) uses the Grand Staff similar to the piano.
Video Player Option with Vocal Score Playback
In OPEN SCORE vocal music, each of the 4 voices is written on its own staff. The voices appear in order of range from highest to lowest.
Video Player Option with Vocal Score Playback
Unlike the OPEN SCORE, the MODERN VOCAL
SCORE does not use the 2 C Clefs (Alto and Tenor). The 3 higher voices are written with the Treble clef with the Alto and Tenor notes written an octave higher than they sound.
This method of writing music is also known as Novello score.
