[HANASHIR:1553] (no subject)

[Bailey, Kent R., Ph.D. <baileyk...>]

Judith, Michelle, Rachel, and all,


I agree it is nice to have information vertically aligned, and it's what
we are all used to. This should be done if at all possible.  Much easier
to deal with visually.

[When I read "All through the night," I had to remove/add spaces in order to
align the note values with the notes and the words (but it was well
worth the effort.)]

I find the time notation (4., 8) less appealing, even though it uses the
 standard quarter/eighth note.  I did find the use of b for flat and 
(what is used for sharp- # ?  ) a lot more natural (by the way, what
symbol is used for natural?  How about n? )


In 'my' system, the first bar or two would be:


  Ab(3)    G(1)    F(2)    Ab(2)  |    Bb(3)   Ab(1)  G(2)   Eb(2)  | 

  Sleep(3)  My(1) Child(2) and(2) |  Peace(3) at(1) -tend(2) thee(2) 

  F(4)        G(3)   G(1)   |  Ab(8)  |

  All(4)  through(3) the(1) |  night(8)


Yes, Vertical alignment is nice because:

-  it's what we're used to
-  no need for parentheses
-  words fit in as well.

I still think the number of counts (rather than 1, 2, 4, 8, 9)
is more natural and flexible in this medium 

At the risk of self-promotion, try to do Debbie Friedman's "Not by Might"
with "1/2/4/8/9" notation versus parenthesized counts (or at least counts
over the notes)


parenthesized counts:

G(3)  F(2)  E(3)     D(3)  E(2)    D(3)   |
 
No(3)-ot(2) by(3)   Mi(3)-ight(2) and(3)  |


C(2)  E(2)  D(1)  A(2)    B(2)   D(2)  R(2)  C(1)   C(2)  |

No(2)-o(2)-ot(1)  by(2))  pow(2) er(2) R(2)  but(1) by(2)  |


G(3)   A(2)    F(1)   G(2)    R(2)    R(2)    D(2)      |

Spi(3)-rit(2)  a(1)- lone(2)  clap(2) clap(2)  shall(2)  |


D(2)    D(2)   E(1)     F#(2)    G(1)  |  (G)(8)     |  (G)(8) 

We(2)   all2)  live(1)  in(2)   pe(1)- |  (eace)(8)  |  (eace) (8)  ...


I almost wonder if it is even necessary to have measure marks?
Now, try it with 1/2/4/8/9 notation


4.  4 (or 8-8?)   4.    4.   4     4.  |
G   F             E  |  D    E     D   |
No- ot            by | mi-  ight  and  |

I'm afraid this loses something in the translation from beautiful contrasting
notes on a page to numbers that look like Morse code.

Here's the vertical system with counts rather than 1/2/4/8/9  time codes

3   2   3      3    2     3    
G   F   E   |  D    E     D    |
No- ot  by  |  Mi-  ight  and  |

2   2   1   2   1       1   2   2   1    2 
C   E   D   A   B    | (B)  D   R   G-   G-  |
No- o-  ot  by  pow- | ow- er  (R)  but  by  |

(You didn't mention, but would "-" be the way to represent an octave
 lower than the original G?)


I'll gladly drop the parentheses if we can substitute counts for 1/2/4/8/9
Not sure still how to handle measures and notes carried over measures.
Dispense with measures?  In really syncopated music, maybe measures are more
trouble than they're worth?


Excitedly,


Kent


Rochester, MN
baileyk (at) mayo(dot)edu