2. Artistic Song Leading Lesson 6 Copyright 2010 by Jimmy Bagwell As part of the “ARTISTIC SONG LEADING” Series

3. 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)‏

4. 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)‏

5. A Descant is an ornamental melody or counterpoint sung above a theme. Artistic Song Leading (Lesson 6)‏

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)‏

7. 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)‏

8. 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)‏

9. 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)‏

10. 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)‏