Klarinet Archive - Posting 000200.txt from 2007/06

From: Adam Michlin <amichlin@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Accidental Usage Question
Date: Fri, 29 Jun 2007 15:10:14 -0400

Leaving aside the general problem of composers/copyists not always
being consistent, a quick peek into Garner Read's "Music Notation: A
Manual of Modern Practice", which was recommended to me many years
when I had the same question, reveals:

(Pg. 129)
1. Extent. When an accidental not included in a key signature
precedes any note, it affects the pitch it precedes-and *no
other*-for that *one measure only*. In the example at the left below
(C below the treble clef staff, C in the treble clef, and C above),
which caries a key signature of three sharps, the natural sign before
the c'' affects that pitch, not c' nor c'''.
[...]
In conservative tonal music this omission [accidentals in other
octaves] might be merely a careless error on the copyist's part.

At least this is guideline I follow regardless of the era of music I
am editing. I really must add there is a good reason it is called
Music Theory and not Music Fact, though.

-Adam
http://www.michlinmusic.com

At 02:34 PM 6/29/2007, Glenn Kantor wrote:
>Even in 12 tone music? I don't think so.
>
>As a general rule any music before 1900, the accidentals affect ALL octaves.
>
>After 1900 - it depends on the composer and the "language/rule" he
>has specifically chosen (or the editor has chosen0 . Check other
>passages in the same piece.

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