NOTATIO

The 2/8 + 3/8 obviously means sometimes you feel it in 2 and sometimes in 3, but that's not typically how you'd notate that, or is it? I'm sure I've seen things like 6/8 (2/4) written before, but the addition of the + here makes this look really strange to me. I usually am not this decisive about n...

The grace notes imply that the bottom two notes should be given less emphasis. If that’s the sound you desire, then it’s fine. If all pitches should receive the same emphasis, then use the standard notation and place them on the same stem as a chord.

I believe RMK is saying, perhaps somewhat humorously, that musicians often will not complain to a composer, conductor, contractor (fixer), or music director for fear of losing work. However, they have no such reservations complaining to librarians when they believe something is amiss. This matches m...

I didn't expect this topic to be quite as divisive as it turned out. I wouldn't say "divisive". This has been a healthy discussion that highlights the different points of view. Some very learned and experienced people prefer one way over the other, and it's interesting to me to hear their...

This is interesting. I was aware that many publishing standards defaulted to stem down. However, I have seen in practice, and discussed with colleagues, more flexibility especially when complex rhythms, slurs, or melodic shapes were involved. I find it interesting, Fred, that you and I have differin...

There are differing schools of thought on this. Some prefer the middle-line stem to follow the prevailing pattern of the half-bar in which it occurs. If the stems in that half-bar are all up, then the middle-line stem should also be up. Your second example matches this thinking. Others prefer the mi...

Thanks should go to John Ruggero for creating another thought-provoking thread that led us here! I was not aware of the post-barline augmentation dot of the past, and it made me think hard about why we do what we do today. The Beethoven and Mahler examples were excellent and musically meaningful; an...

The dotted quarters in the Mahler example are quite obvious and easy to read, for a musician above beginner's level. I can't believe that professional, and most likely very experienced, musicians in the film industry (or whatever similar venue) have difficulties sight-reading this. That's a reasona...

Oh my! I look at this type of notation and instantly understand what the composer wants. I also simultaneously want to shout that this notation is asking for a mistake when sight reading.

Such are the two minds of which we are cursed when we care about notation.

I would speculate that this is because the program still “sees” a blank notehead character and places the staccato in relation to that. Also, I’d be willing to bet that this is a case which was not considered by programmers because it is quite rare. If it was considered, I’m sure it was placed rathe...