On 20-Jun-08, at 2:23 PM, Paul Hayden wrote:
I quit using the ottava bassa sign (8vb) _under_ notes several
years ago when I read (in Read's book and probably on this list)
that the normal octave sign (8va) should be used. I noticed that
FinMac08b uses 8vb by default when you use the Smart Shapes octave
symbol (8va) below notes. (I reset the 8vb symbol so that 8va shows
in the Smart Shape Options window.)
1. Do you think 8vb under notes looks amateurish?
No. With due respect to Read, the term "8va" these days is most often
taken to mean "ottava alta" or octave higher (the real Italian
notwithstanding.) Like "half=quarter" to mean "former half note
equals new quarter, or half tempo",
the modern usage is more clear and less fussy than the traditional
one. (in modern editions, of course!)
Taking "8vb" to mean "ottava bassa" is so common nowadays as to
eclipse the original usage. I would put 8va above and 8vb below
wherever space permits, though.
2. Do you normally use 8va and its dashed bracket line in Smart
Shapes, or do you do it all manually with an Expression "8va" and
then the dashed bracket tool in Smart Shapes?
The Smart Shape beginning with 8va is so useful in so many different
ways that I would never resort to the old manual way, unless I was
forced. In the manual method, the distance between the text and the
line will never stay constant, as both are attached to beats, so if
the measure changes size you will always have to nudge both items.
The newer Smart Shape will always keep a constant alignment, no
matter what happens to the measure.
I never have to adjust these in extracted parts any more. I have
taken to entering a whole bunch of things using these hybrid Smart
Shapes, like "fill......" "even eighths....." "double time feel....."
and even "poco....a....poco", though for dim poco a poco I actually
have to enter TWO items (because I can't have FOUR divisions of text,
only three.)
christopher
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