NOTATIO

OCTO , I never have the need for particularly advanced notation (aleatoric, cut-out, microtones, etc...) my music being a bit more on the conservative side, but as far as I know, everything you describe can be achieved in Dorico. The transition for me was... not bad. I started out simply recopying ...

I recently tried opening Finale to look at a file, and was completely lost.
I'm now much more comfortable with Dorico than I ever was with Finale.

Add my vote for making beat divisions clear.
I tend to avoid the use of too many syncopations.
I particularly dislike B and C in the OP's post.

wasn't there a question of some score with the word "hum-ble" crossing a page turn, and the choir suddenly switching to "bouche fermé" at the bottom of that page?

I don't understand this "metrical enigma" issue. 6/4 and 3/2 contain the exact same amount of quarter notes. The overall pulse simply switches from dotted half to half, like in Bernstein's "America" (only in a slow tempo). What I've seen most pianists do (and what I've chosen to ...

But that brings up the famous controversy about Debussy's Prelude...Engulfed Cathedral. He appears to be saying that the quarter note is constant throughout. But in his own recorded performance he plays the quarter notes in the opening 6/4 at the same speed as the half notes in the following 3/2. P...

you see, I like the grace note notation because to me it indicates that the grace notes should be played distinct from the rest of the notes. in the chord notation, to my eye, it implies that the notes should be played as quickly as possible, and as much "in one go" as possible. it also al...

If a string player (or someone very knowledgeable in string notation) could help me with this question, it would be immensely appreciated. when writing a multi-stop, I've always written the first-played notes as grace notes, then the actual "on the beat" notes as "real" notes. I'...

I would have gone with only at the top staff, considering how small an ensemble it is.

Ravel has them over the top staff, over the voice AND over the piano in Chansons Madécasses. To me that's overkill. But then, I ain't no Ravel, either.

well THIS topic has sure taken a tangent!! it's been interesting, even if rather unrelated to the original question LOL quick callback to the original post: I'm rather upset that the orchestra is stuck working from parts that have errors in them that were only found AFTER they had all been printed a...