Syncopation is a special musical device for marking a stress of otherwise unaccented beat, and as it is not possible to put an accent on a rest, you cannot notate rests syncopated. So as long as in 4/4: [4][2][4] is right for syncopated rhythm, [4][2r][4] just does not make any sense (however mathematically correct).
You can find it most explicit in G.Heussenstamm's book "The Norton Manual of Music Notation", where he states that, "rests must not be syncopated" (p.36 and on). T.Ross in his "The Art of Music Engraving..." (p.180) gives many examples to this rule, including [16][8r][16] as INCORRECT notation. K.Stone "Music Notation in the Twentieth Century" (p.133): "Rest should not be placed in syncopated positions..." however he mentions the recent exceptions being dotted eighth rests and smaller. Yet he will not allow even dotted quarter rest on the first beat in 4/4: [4.r][8][2] to avoid confusion with 6/8 time: [4.r][8][4] G.Read "Music Notation" is less specific on this point, but he shows a typical example (p.101) of this rule in 6/8 time: [4r][8] [8][8r][8r] And even so very "Essential Dictionary of Music Notation" by T.Gerou/L.Lusk (on p.201 and on) says: "Rests of equal value to the beat can only appear on the beat." "Rests of 2/3 value of a pulse may be used only on the pulse." (i.e. a quarter note in 6/8) Last but not the least. Some theory books are reliable, some not. And as much as music engraving is an art to learn not from books, it is important to be able talk to a knowledgeable person, a living authority in engraving, which does not necessarily mean a player interested in notation, nor even a composer or an average copyist. This is especially true, when today everyone, who knows how to read notes, seems to be knowledgeable enough to write them with engraver's quality, or even to start a publishing house using Finale in its default beauty. So I truly believe that you can see [16][8r][16] all the time. with best regards Abel Korzeniowski P.S. BTW you're not allowed to use dotted half rest in 4/4 and 3/4, nor a half rest in 3/4 (with only one exception). David H. Bailey asked: > And what international convention adopted this "rule?" Which rule > number is it, anyway, and what book can we look it up in? > > If we are not ever to syncopate rests, then I gather that the following: > 16th-note/8th-rest/16th-note is never to be written? What's up with > that, it's written all the time. > I very rarely see that syncopation written > 16th-note/16th-rest/16th-rest/16th-note. _______________________________________________ Finale mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://mail.shsu.edu/mailman/listinfo/finale
