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RE: [Finale] TAN: Dynamics after a rest

Lee Actor
Sat, 06 Feb 2010 16:30:44 -0800

> Hi all,
>
> Given an instrumental part that plays for 20 measures or so at mf with
> the occasional rest thrown in, is there a rule of thumb (or something
> more formal) about when the dynamic should be restated?
>
> It's in my head that if there are two or more full measures of rest, the
> dynamic should be repeated when the instrument comes in again, for
> clarity. If there's only a single measure rest (even if there's a beat
> or two of rest on either side of the empty measure), it's assumed that
> the last stated dynamic is still in force.
>
> I took a quick look through Ross and Read, but I didn't see anything
> pertinent.
>
> Thanks,
> Aaron.


I don't know if there's a rule, but I always restate dynamics after only one
full measure of rest.  If the tempo was fast enough, I might relax that to
two full measures of rest.  I've had plenty of rehearsals slog down with
questions about assumed dynamics that aren't written in, but never about
dynamics that seem to be redundant.  :-)

-Lee

Lee Actor
Composer-in-Residence and Assistant Conductor, Palo Alto Philharmonic
Assistant Conductor, Nova Vista Symphony
http://www.leeactor.com

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