NOTATIO

I wouldn't call the serifs fonts usually used in plate engraved scores like the Peters 'Slab serifs', which, although there are overlaps into conventional serifs, are characterized by very obvious serifs and often geometric, low contrast shapes. Rather, the font(s) you're referring to is a variant o...

The following unforgivable “correction” in the Cortot edition shows two units, which could lead to an unmusical performance: Just to be clear, I am not advocating such alterations in existing works, I'm only questioning whether it's the best form of notation available for the particular effect it's...

Since a staccato dot is simply an abbreviation for shortening a note and adding a rest after it, one might think of the two notations as interchangeable for the purpose of understanding the subject under discussion. Sure, although I think that if a portato is indeed what's intended, the slur and st...

Well here is the relevant page of full score at the stage at which I think I made the vocal score (35 years ago, so my memory…) - it's not the definitive full score, which followed a little later. Reading the comments, I'm wondering just what were my intentions? In any case, it's on my long list of...

If David had written a staccato dotted quarter note (instead of the quarter rote and eighth rest) slurred to what follows, would you find that more acceptable? Certainly! If so, now simply replace the staccato dotted quarter note with a quarter note and eighth rest. Well, then it wouldn't be a port...

The slur through the rest is very typical of piano music to show that the fingers do not maintain a legato but the arm makes a connective gesture through the phrase. Note also the joining of two slurs on the tied note D, to show two phrases joined on one note. I must admit that even though I've enc...

I don't think this page from a vocal score I prepared for a piece of mine in 1982 illustrates the point; but it certainly does contain some wayward slurs! (Crotchet [quarter] = 72) Thanks for sharing this David! Except for being struck by the general clarity and tidiness of your manuscript, there a...

… … …As this more basic layer of communication is always and inevitably present, I think that engravers should seek to be aware of it as much as possible. Many composers are! I was usually conscious of this sort of thing when writing in manuscript, but I continue to struggle (and sometimes give up)...

Here is the solution that John was referring to (I think). I edited the beat chart for 2nd AND 3rd note. It's much more difficult to get good results like this, but it looks better than image 3. solution6.jpg This is basically what I meant as well. Whenever there isn't an abundance of space in a me...

Sorry, Knut, I edited the last post down to the point where it is cryptic. The stems of the quarter notes don't appear in line with each other in example 2; I think they should be. I think that is standard practice and what the engraver was trying to accomplish in the original example, but eye-ball...