Feature request: ‘classic vocal beaming’

[Simon Albrecht]

Hello,

traditionally[1][2] in vocal music beaming corresponds to melismata: if 
multiple notes are sung to one syllable, they are beamed according to 
normal rules [3], else no beams are used. Currently this is achieved 
through \autoBeamOff and manual beams in melismata, but this feels 
clumsy (apart from being a little tedious) and mixes some presentation 
aspect into content. I imagine that it wouldn’t be so difficult to do 
this automatically: Like with lyrics, the beaming procedure might listen 
to whether a melisma is active. If yes, beam the notes, if no, don’t.
Suggested syntax would be to complement the boolean
\set autoBeaming ##t resp. \autoBeamOn
\set autoBeaming ##f resp. \autoBeamOff
by a third option
\set autoBeaming #classic-vocal resp. \autoBeamVocal. (or #vocal? 
\autoBeamClassicVocal? I’d be more precise with the former version and 
more concise with the shortcut)

Best regards, Simon

[1] In more complex music sometimes beaming follows normal rules and 
melismata are indicated exclusively through slurs and/or placement of 
syllables.
[2] For examples see e.g. the Breitkopf&Härtel Complete Editions of 
Bach, Brahms, Mendelssohn, Mozart (all on IMSLP), or the Peters editions 
of Mendelssohn’s choral music. They differ in their use of slurs – 
that’s where it gets controversial/individual.
[3] There are exceptions with longer beams, if they obsolete the slur, 
but there’s nothing to be said about doing these manually (especially if 
melismaBusyProperties includes beamMelismaBusy).