I've heard some editors point out that the piano keyboard looks the same in each octave and requires the same eye/hand coordination patterns in any octave, whereas wind and string instruments are fingered differently in the highest registers compared to below. A flutist associates high high C above the 5th line with a certain fingering and seeing that note up there sets up automatic muscle memory in fingers and embouchure that isn't true for the visual experience of the C on the 2nd ledger line. This kinetic reaction to notation can carry over to general registers/octaves of the piano but not to fingering and perhaps tone production. So if this theory is valid, and I believe it is, then it makes most sense to always write for flute without 8va signs, but to sometimes use them for piano. It sounds like Dennis's colleagues would agree with this.
----- Original Message ----- From: "Dennis Bathory-Kitsz" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >When I then 8va'd the score for him, > other pianists also commented that it was easier to read. Though it was a > small sample (just five pianists), none preferred the ledger lines (one > even re-wrote the score by hand because he was shy to ask for a copy > without ledger lines!). _______________________________________________ Finale mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://lists.shsu.edu/mailman/listinfo/finale
