Re: <<aes,2. \\ {s4 ees2} \\ {s2 bes4}>>

[Kieren MacMillan]

Hey all,

>> The two options are not mutually exclusive--they are one and the same.
> They may not be mutually exclusive for you.

I think we must remember that different scores serve different purposes.

Daily I am frustrated with the poorly-engraved scores I am forced to use as a 
musical theatre director. “Why”, I ask, “does this piano-conductor score of 
<Show X> not look like Boosey & Hawkes full score of ‘West Side Story’ or the 
published ‘Sweeney’ piano-vocal score?!?!” And then I remind myself that <Show 
X> P/C score was almost certainly cranked out under extreme pressure right up 
until the opening night of the premiere performance (and maybe even during the 
run!), whereas B&H’s “West Side” orchestral score was commissioned after the 
fact as a published [essentially 'critical'] edition. Those are two very 
different purposes — and hence very different engravings.

Does “readable” mean “sight-readable”, or rather “can be parsed sufficiently 
well under calm study and practice conditions”? Does the same score need to be 
used for both study/practice and performance? If so, which of those two 
[possibly quite different] arenas take precedence?

K.
________________________________

Kieren MacMillan, composer
‣ website: www.kierenmacmillan.info
‣ email: address@hidden