At 8:52 AM -0400 8/3/07, Martin Banner wrote:
I am preparing a modern performing edition of an 18th Century sacred
Latin piece for chorus and orchestra, including continuo. As I am
preparing the keyboard realization of the figured bass, I think back
to the continuo keyboard parts I have played from (mostly European
publications, Baerenreiter, Breitkopf, etc), where the naming of the
part is "Cembalo". For an edition such as mine that will be
published here in the US, what would be an appropriate substitute
term in English to use in place of Cembalo. "Keyboard" is the first
thing that comes to mind, but is there something clearer than that
to indicate that this is the keyboard realization of the continuo
figured bass?
Thanks in advance for your collective wisdom.
I assume that you are realizing the bass in order to provide a
continuo part. Since a realization is always done with a specific
instrument in mind but still needs to be flexible, I would suggest
specifying "Piano" (if that is your intention, but I would certainly
not use your edition in that case); "Harpsichord," "Organ," or some
combination like "Harpsichord or Organ." I agree that using
"Cembalo" just because it's used in German publications makes no
sense in a non-German publication, much like using "Partitur" instead
of "Full Score."
And be aware (as you no doubt already are) that players capable of
realizing the figures themselves really hate having someone else's
realization in front of them, while inexperienced players (including
many students) do need something that lies within their technique.
It's almost impossible to satisfy everyone!
John
--
John R. 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
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