NOTATIO

I know this topic has come up before, and I'm still not sure how it ended up, or if there is any sort of resolution to it.

There are so many examples giving different results, that it's hard to decide which is more "logical".

So, what are people's opinions on ties and single-note tremolos?

imagine if you will a long sequence of whole notes, a single note covering multiple bars, played tremolo.

Normally, if it weren't for the tremolo I'd simply use a regular tie for this.

• but with tremolo I've seen the argument that since they are themselves repeated notes, no tie between them is necessary.

• I've heard performers play un-tied tremolo notes with a slight break or accentuation, which is not necessarily the desired sound result.

• some seem to promote the use of a dashed or dotted tie for this type of situation.

• others have suggested a simple regular tie is fine.

Where do the professionals stand on this particular issue?
I'm not really seeing any proscription or prohibition in Gould, other than her comment that with a dashed/dotted tie accidentals be repeated.

I use dashed ties most of the times, especially in contemporary music.

In an ideal world it would be very simple:

No ties = downbeat emphasis at the beginning of each measure.

Regular ties (or dashed ties for the ultra-logical, like Bartok) = no downbeat emphasis.

Since it is far from an ideal, logical world, composers have written non-tied tremolo notes but wanted no downbeat emphasis.

I would start with dashed ties and then throw in a sim. if it's used a lot in the piece.

You can also put in an explanatory note in the score/affected parts.

I thought I ought to check what I did myself. Inconsistent! In a piece written in 2015/16 I use ties, but in one written in 2019 I don't. This probably sums it up: there is no absolute rule and both are correct.

Dashed ties are maybe a bit fussy, but perfectly acceptable if that's what you prefer.

From the G. Schirmer Manual of Style and Usage (Second edition):

"We do not use dashed ties for tremolandi, trills or artificial harmonics".

I would use normal ties since the undefined-speed tremolo conveys a single sound rather than a precise rhythm. Particularly it is true within the string groups, and particularly clear when dealing with new music.
However, in older publications, the conventional tremolo notation often omits ties, specially the timpani and percussion sections.

And I personally would avoid the dashed ties because it creates an excessive visual clutter with an overabundance of dashes. Too many dashes everywhere!