I wouldn't put parentheses on bowing changes over a long note. Just put
the bowing change somewhere about where it ought to happen, maybe not
exactly in the middle of the measure so it won't look as if it should
fall exactly on beat three (or whatever). If all the kids really do
change at exactly the same time, the conductor will have to explain
things, but I think that parentheses will need more explaining. If
something is in parentheses someone is sure to ask why. People may
wonder if the thing is optional.
Another point to consider is that whatever bowing you put in, there
will be somewhere a concertmaster, teacher or conductor who'll want to
change it. I've seen enough string parts full of heavy pencil markings
changing up-bows to down-bows, or the contrary. If there are
parentheses this just makes more clutter to cross out.
So my recommendation, from personal experience as conductor and
cellist, would be to never put bowings in parentheses. If the editor
insists on bowings, just put them in normally.
Michael Cook
On 15 May 2006, at 14:44, Jamin Hoffman wrote:
Dear all -
Thanks for the clues as to how to do it - I am now
satisfied!
To answer John's query "why bother?" - I primarily
write and edit educational string arrangements for Hal
Leonard, which has instructed me to "over-bow," rather
than "under-bow" and assume the kids (or even their
instructors) will know what to do (definitely not
scholarly editions). I have even been asked NOT to
use "sim." in repeated passages, but rather to re-bow
them completely. Suffice it to say that I don't
always agree with all their editorial decisions, and I
would (and do) definitely do it differently for
professionals.
I would use bowing in parentheses on a long note, to
indicate to the student "you should change your bow
somewhere in ths note." With my own high school
orchestra, I have found that just using an up- or
down-bow may cause them to take it literally, and all
change bows at exactly that point. The parentheses at
least suggests that it's different from a regular
bowing mark, which may cause them to ask what it
means. It's still a little bit of rehearsal time,
but, from then on, they know what it means.
Since I am not a "native" string player (one of the
ironies of my position), perhaps I should ask - is
there another, clearer way to indicate this?
Sometimes I use text, "stagger bow changes," either in
place of or in addition to the bowing mark. I'm open
to suggestions -
Thanks -
Jamin
_______________________________________________
Finale mailing list
[email protected]
http://lists.shsu.edu/mailman/listinfo/finale
_______________________________________________
Finale mailing list
[email protected]
http://lists.shsu.edu/mailman/listinfo/finale
