Search found 578 matches

by David Ward
17 Jul 2025, 18:43
Forum: Notation Rules and Standards
Topic: Distance from the left bar line
Replies: 9
Views: 200

Re: Distance from the left bar line

This is not something I've thought about, but I suspect you may be right and that over consistency in this matter can look rather mechanical. Interesting placement of bass clefs in the first example: was this a normal convention at the time? FWIW Out of idle curiosity, and with no idea what I might ...
by David Ward
14 Jul 2025, 19:19
Forum: Notation Rules and Standards
Topic: Modern convention on this cello passage
Replies: 9
Views: 356

Re: Modern convention on this cello passage

My uncertain interpretation (I learnt the cello to Grade VIII in my 1950s adolescence, although I became a trombonist): first pair, G as an octave harmonic plus D on open D string; next three pairs A, B, A on the D string, the D's all on the G string. However, I'm not certain, so a currently active ...
by David Ward
08 Jul 2025, 11:53
Forum: Type and Font Design
Topic: Plantin-Moretus Printing Museum in Antwerp
Replies: 5
Views: 4142

Re: Plantin-Moretus Printing Museum in Antwerp

Thank you for posting this: it's very interesting.
by David Ward
01 Jul 2025, 10:18
Forum: Engraving Commentaries
Topic: Staff and leger line thicknesses
Replies: 17
Views: 18606

Re: Staff and leger line thicknesses

I didn't even notice the time signatures, but, yes, they do look a bit large. In the years (decades) when I hand copied many of my own parts, I always made time signatures larger than the staves. However, in typeset music that does seem to look a bit wrong. I too would not object if the stave, ledge...
by David Ward
30 Jun 2025, 18:27
Forum: Engraving Commentaries
Topic: Staff and leger line thicknesses
Replies: 17
Views: 18606

Re: Staff and leger line thicknesses

These are most certainly not too thick or distracting for me. However, I'm commenting as a composer (and one time performer) rather than as a professional engraver.
by David Ward
27 Jun 2025, 09:14
Forum: Notation Rules and Standards
Topic: Piano reduction
Replies: 8
Views: 5767

Re: Piano reduction

… … … I would use chromatic glisses for the trombone slides. They could be a pretty good approximation if played rapidly. And omit tones as necessary to eliminate hand and thumb crossing, if possible. If the the slides are extensive, you could use both hands.… … … An unbroken slide glissando is lim...
by David Ward
27 Jun 2025, 08:53
Forum: Notation Rules and Standards
Topic: Piano reduction
Replies: 8
Views: 5767

Re: Piano reduction

In Rozsa's Cello Concerto's piano reduction, the final beating of the "frusta" (in Italian, don't know how to say it in English, it's the same of the opening of Ravel Piano Concerto in G) is written with an instruction for the pianist to clap their hands. Frustra is ‘whip’ in English. Any...
by David Ward
26 Jun 2025, 18:30
Forum: Notation Rules and Standards
Topic: Piano reduction
Replies: 8
Views: 5767

Piano reduction

I'm expecting to completely redo the piano reduction (for soloist's rehearsal) of my 2nd cello concerto. Since I'm revisiting the piece (first performed in 2003), I should probably start the reduction again from scratch, especially as the existing piano rendering is awful. For much of the piece it's...
by David Ward
23 Jun 2025, 13:12
Forum: Engraving Commentaries
Topic: First engraving project with Dorico
Replies: 13
Views: 3455

Re: First engraving project with Dorico

It looks quite good, but I suspect that there are things which the engraving experts (I don't regard myself as one of their number) on this forum will suggest should be improved.

Which conservatoire is it you are due to attend?
by David Ward
19 Jun 2025, 20:12
Forum: Notation Rules and Standards
Topic: Resized staff/note and line thickness
Replies: 6
Views: 3570

Re: Resized staff/note and line thickness

I wonder if something along these lines might work: when the note size is reduced to 65% the stave line thickness &c might be reduced to 85%? Today my old eyes have been struggling with a B & H study score of Elektra by Strauss. Some pages have a fearsome number of staves, necessitating a re...