'Sib. 6.x: OT: Anacruses in orchestral scores'

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Sib. 6.x: OT: Anacruses in orchestral scores - Mark Isaacs, 19 Feb 12:14AM
     Re: Sib. 6.x: OT: Anacruses in orchestral scores - Rob Tuley, 19 Feb 01:06AM
         Re: Sib. 6.x: OT: Anacruses in orchestral scores - Jody Hughes, 19 Feb 09:24AM
             Re: Sib. 6.x: OT: Anacruses in orchestral scores - Mark Isaacs, 19 Feb 09:49AM

Sib. 6.x: OT: Anacruses in orchestral scores
Posted by Mark Isaacs - 19 Feb 12:14AM (edited 19 Feb 12:32AM)
I'm wondering about the question of using a literal anacrusis (incomplete bar) in an orchestral score, as opposed to writing the whole bar out in full, beginning with rests up until the first played notes.

Just picking two scores at random out of my library: Sibelius's and Walton's second symphonies both start with what are effectively anacruses, yet the whole first bar is written out, beginning with the necessary rests.

Since a conductor would beat some preceding beats before the played anacrusis - perhaps even the whole bar in 3 time - perhaps this might be a reason to write the whole bar out in orchestral scores where there is an anacrusis?

I couldn't find any discussion of anacruses in Elaine Gould's book.

Perhaps it's just a matter of choice, and neither here nor there, but if anybody has arguments on either side in this context, I'd be very interested.

--
A composer www.markisaacs.com
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Sibelius 6.2.0 build 88, Sibelius 5.2.5 build 37, Bob Zawalich plugins, Vista SP1, Intel quad CPU Q9450 2.66Ghz, 3GB RAM, 27'' monitor, M-Audio Audiophile 2496 soundcard, Bose Computer Music Monitor speakers, Sibelius Sounds Essentials, Sibelius Sounds, Garritan Personal Orchestra 3, Garritan Authorised Steinway.
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Re: Sib. 6.x: OT: Anacruses in orchestral scores
Posted by Rob Tuley - 19 Feb 01:06AM (edited 19 Feb 01:07AM)
An anacrusis usually makes sense in "classical" period, because the sections of music are often repeated, and the repeat marks are at the same mid-bar rhythmic position as the anacrusis. The alternative would be messy - a start-repeat barline at bar 2, and first and second time endings for the repeats.

That doesn't apply to Sibelius 2 - the first movement effectively ends with a full bar (though the last half-beat is a rest). I don't have access to the Walton score.

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Rob

Sib 4.1, Windows 10.
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Re: Sib. 6.x: OT: Anacruses in orchestral scores
Posted by Jody Hughes - 19 Feb 09:24AM
Hi Mark

Your examples notwithstanding, the use of empty rests at the beginning of an orchestral score is unusual enough that it is likely the conductor will need to explain to the players that nothing sounds at the beginning, and for how long.

Also, a conductor's preparatory (un-notated) beats are so common/necessary that notating them is fraught with danger too. (For example, if the notated empty beats are preceded by a preparatory (unnotated) upbeat, it can cause miscounting.)

So, in general, I would not notate them. The last time I 'allowed' this (in a kind of Urtext situation where the client publisher wanted to follow the manuscript) I put – in the parts – a bracket over the empty rests of bar 1 with –G.P.– showing. It was a sub-optimal outcome.

There is at least one exception: if the anacrusis bar is nearly complete (so that the 'missing' part was less than a beat) then notating it complete is most likely preferable.

hope that's useful
Jeremy
--
music editor/engraver
Sibelius 6.2 – 8.5.1 on a Mac running OS X 10.10.5
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Re: Sib. 6.x: OT: Anacruses in orchestral scores
Posted by Mark Isaacs - 19 Feb 09:49AM (edited 19 Feb 09:50AM)
Rob, thanks for that point about the classical period and repeats, where a true anacrusis made obvious sense.

Jeremy, thank you for illuminating clearly a conclusion I was heading for since posting: that empty rests at the start would require explanation in rehearsal, and could potentially be a point of confusion. I also appreciate knowing that it is actually unusual to have such empty rests at the beginning of an orchestral score, meaning that the examples I happened to stumble upon first up must be exceptions, not the rule.

--
A composer www.markisaacs.com
www.facebook.com/markisaacsmusic
Sibelius 6.2.0 build 88, Sibelius 5.2.5 build 37, Bob Zawalich plugins, Vista SP1, Intel quad CPU Q9450 2.66Ghz, 3GB RAM, 27'' monitor, M-Audio Audiophile 2496 soundcard, Bose Computer Music Monitor speakers, Sibelius Sounds Essentials, Sibelius Sounds, Garritan Personal Orchestra 3, Garritan Authorised Steinway.
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Messages in this thread

Sib. 6.x: OT: Anacruses in orchestral scores - Mark Isaacs, 19 Feb 12:14AM
     Re: Sib. 6.x: OT: Anacruses in orchestral scores - Rob Tuley, 19 Feb 01:06AM
         Re: Sib. 6.x: OT: Anacruses in orchestral scores - Jody Hughes, 19 Feb 09:24AM
             Re: Sib. 6.x: OT: Anacruses in orchestral scores - Mark Isaacs, 19 Feb 09:49AM