I agree. To expand on that, I follow these rules:
1) Things that apply to *all* parts, i.e. stuff that a conducter needs to know (letter "A", tempo markings, accl., rit., rall., etc), should *always* be places above the staff. They are structural markers and should always be extremely clear and predictable. No exceptions here...*EVER*
2) _expression_ directions (dolce, espress., legato, etc.) should be place where it is meaningful, particularly when there is more than one voice involved in a single part. There are so many variables involved, that no one rule works 100% of the time. Some of you say that putting them below the staff, but when there are many dynamics and hairpins involved, that makes no sense at all because there is no room for the _expression_ without putting it so far below everything else, that it is not readily seen. I put them closest to where they apply.
3) Hairpins, and "cresc . . . poco . . . a . . . poco", etc. should be placed under the staff...HOWEVER...many rules go out the window with polyphonic writing, which demands that these are placed closest to the line that it applies.
4) With articulations, the only things that should be on the "note side" and within the staff are staccatos and tenutos; everything else should be above the staff. For those of you who have seen my articulations font examples shows many other articulations under the staff. This is to demonstrate that "flipped" characters do exist in the font and not my preferred practice, but to be available for polyphonic writing.
My mantra is "be impossible to be misunderstood". If you are paying $6000 per hour in a recording session, it makes a huge difference if there are no questions about what you mean. Several people here have said before that rhythm is paramount. I would include structural clarity to that. That is, to me, the only hard and fast rule to notation. The rest depends on the situation: The "right" way is NOT to generate questions about what you mean.
Bill Duncan
From: Jonathan Smith <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Reply-To: [email protected]
Date: Wed, 8 Mar 2006 08:14:42 +0100
To: [email protected]
Subject: [Finale] _expression_ marks
Into which category do you place rit, accel, rallentando, ect?
These are all changes of tempi which should be placed above the staff and be clear to read as they will apply to <all> instruments.
Jonathan
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