Michael Edwards wrote: >[John Howell, quoting Darcy James Argue:] > >>>Will it really cause that much confusion to divide the violins three ways >>>instead of two? >> >>YES! > > But why? (Pardon me if I just don't get what is obvious to others.) If >the composer clearly indicates what he or she wants, where does the >communication break down?
It only breaks down because it isn't an ordinary situation. Darcy was asking for the best way to communicate, which is commendable. But even if he was crystal clear, the orchestra would have to take valuable rehearsal time to figure out how to do it because it isn't something ordinarily or automatically done. > > >>>Doesn't this happen often enough in the standard rep that >>>everyone knows what to do? >> >>NO! > > But can't the composer *say* what they should do? If that is stated >clearly, is it too much to ask players to do that? When musicians can >play the >most fearsomely complex rhythms and harmonies, and adjust their balance in >complex textures (as a non-orchestral-player, these seem impressive feats to >me), it sounds difficult to believe that such a simple thing will defeat them. >How would they manage in the far more complicated arrangements in the >Banks and >Szymanowski works I mentioned earlier? Again, they can DO it, but it's out of the ordinary so they couldn't do it automatically. > Is it just a case of players following certain habits and being unwilling >to ever change those habits - or is there something more fundamental I'm >missing? Not unwilling to change, but unprepared for something out of the ordinary. > In any case, referring to the original question that Darcy asked, I >suppose >each violin section can at least be separately divided into three. Certainly >*this* is common enough (I've seen it quite frequently in scores), and surely >shouldn't cause confusion. That is a brilliant solution, and will solve Darcy's problem without the players being aware that it ever was a problem! (Wish I'd thought of it.) John John & Susie Howell Virginia Tech Department of Music Blacksburg, Virginia, U.S.A. 24061-0240 Vox (540) 231-8411 Fax (540) 231-5034 (mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]) http://www.music.vt.edu/faculty/howell/howell.html _______________________________________________ Finale mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://mail.shsu.edu/mailman/listinfo/finale
