On 8 Jul 2005 at 17:14, Richard Yates wrote:

> > > > I can't see any obvious meaning to 60.75.
> 
> Then isn't the next hypothesis that there is a non-obvious meaning? I
> think it is overwhelmingly likely that the composer was entirely aware
> that the two-decimal point precision is impossible to follow or
> maintain. It seems ludicrous to think otherwise. You seem locked into
> the assumptions that the marking MUST be intended concretely. . . .

It's funny how decimal points seem in my crazy world to be associated 
with precision.

> . . . There
> are lots of other possibilities - indeed even subtle and artistic
> ones. Maybe it's a puzzle; maybe it's a parody; maybe it's a satire on
> overprecision; maybe it's purpose is to reveal musicians who have a
> bullheaded insistence on literalism.

Someone specifies a number to a precision that is humanly possible to 
realize or perceive, and *I'm* the one who insists on interpreting it 
with precision?

> It is as if someone were looking at this:
> 
> http://www.comviz.com.ulaval.ca/module1/Images/MagrittePipe.jpg
> 
> and saying "Of course it's a pipe! You can't fool me!"

Ridiculous analogy -- has nothing whatsoever to do with the 
discussion. A pictorial representation of an object, no matter how 
detailed, is still a depiction.

A score is a recipe for performing the piece.

Specifying a metronome marking of 60.75 would be like specifying 
1.00456 teaspoons of sugar in a recipe -- not something to be taken 
at all seriously, and not something that accomplishes anything in 
regard to enhancing the results.

I'm done on this issue. I get angry when people defend such blatantly 
obvious stupidity.

-- 
David W. Fenton                        http://www.bway.net/~dfenton
David Fenton Associates                http://www.bway.net/~dfassoc

_______________________________________________
Finale mailing list
[email protected]
http://lists.shsu.edu/mailman/listinfo/finale

Reply via email to