Re: slurs and bars in vocal music

[Kieren MacMillan]

Hi Reinhold,

> here in Europe, that is traditional notation

Yes, it's "traditional notation" over here, too...   ;)

From the Essential Dictionary of Music Notation, pg 186:
"Beaming of notes associated with a lyric now follows standard  
notational practice. Traditional practice, now obsolete, was to use  
flags for eighth notes, sixteenth notes, etc. Beams were only used  
for melismas."

I don't own any other modern style guides (i.e., written or re-edited  
in the last 20 years), but I'd be shocked if they contradicted that.

> if  you are used to classical music, the "new" notation is quite  
> confusing
> and the  singers will have problems when sight-reading.

Actually, I've personally conducted several tests on different  
occasions (different choirs) with two different editions of the same  
score: the beamed-to-beat was easier for them to sight read than the  
beamed-to-melisma, every time. Furthermore, I have had conversations  
with numerous professional singers, conductors, and orchestral  
players — every single one, *without exception*, has said it's more  
difficult to read improperly beamed notes (e.g., harpists in  
orchestra, where the hand is supposed to switch on a gliss but the  
beaming is "melismatic").

But anyone can feel free to use an obsolete, more difficult notation  
system if they really want to!  ;)

Cheers,
Kieren.