clef (klef)

[F. clef, OF. cle, clef = Sp. clave, now llave = Pg. chave, a key, clave, a clef, = It. chiave, IMG:content-0568.png:[blocks in formation] 1. Soprano clef. 2. Alto clef. 3. Tenor clef. 4. Greg or i an C clef. 5. Greg or i an F clef. soprano clef; when upon the third line, the alto clef; upon the fourth line, the tenor clef, etc.; an f clef placed on the third line of the staff was called the barytone clef. The C clef in its various positions is most used in old music and in full scores of large vocal works. In Grego rian music a peculiar form of the C clef appears, and also of the F clef. The form of all these characters has resulted from gradual changes of the Gothic letters G, F, and C. See staff.