Re: Measure-free scores

Hi all,

I need to take a long hike this afternoon to think about all this.

Just to reiterate, from my perspective, any system that's developed should be
future-proof as much as possible -- as well as past, geographically and
culturally encompassing.

Measures are only one aspect of this, which is why I object to it being
considered fundamental.

The appearance of measures as we know them is a somewhat modern and western
circumstance. The music that I engrave for clients today uses them either
rarely or in methods that are not rooted in 1600-1900 ideology. A major
commission just turned in (from a composer I advise) uses timings and a
continuous scroll of score where the only use of pages is for printing,
cutting up, and taping together.

I am sure these are considered by some to be minor or disposable approaches,
and not to be taken to heart when devising a large-scale system.

I disagree. In struggling to turn pen to electronic for 25-plus years, I have
learned that putting off means never putting in. In commercial notation
programs, putting off has prevented advance in these areas over decades.

I'll have a few more thoughts when I clear my head in the fresh air.

Many thanks to all,
Dennis

Received on Monday, 3 April 2017 16:16:03 UTC