Hi all!
Lately I've become rather heavily interested in serialism and pantonality (a la Second Viennese School). And as I write, I keep hearing my old composition prof in the back of my head saying that I should spell intervals as diatonically as possible (ie: write G-Bb instead of G-A#). What I need to know is:
1. Is this a good practice to follow? I mean, vocalists will need the recognizable intervals (minor third instead of augmented second), but does it matter so much for a pianist or an oboist, for example? I would think it easier to write all accidentals as either flats or sharps for sake of unity.
2. If this is a practice to be adopted, should it be followed between staves of a two-staff part (like piano)?
I think that what you write should reflect your idea in the part. If you perceive it as an augmented second, you should write it G-A#, but if you're thinking of it as a minor third, you should write it G-Bb.
I wouldn't worry about what your performer may or may not expect. Write it in the way you think makes your meaning most clear. Good musicians will be able to perform it however it's written and bad musicians won't be able to perform it no matter what.
Your question about the piano should receive the same answer -- don't write it only for simplification, if you are perceiving it as G-A# in one staff and at another time are perceiving it as G-Bb in the other staff, that's how you should write it.
I would NEVER write the accidentals as all sharps or all flats simply for the sake of unity. Write the accidentals as you feel they best describe the musical motion.
Just my 12-tones'-worth.
-- David H. Bailey [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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