Henle Blog and App

[John Ruggero]

I just discovered a very nice blog at Henle.com. Subjects of interest to Notatio members involving engraving, editing etc. are discussed by some knowledgable folks. Henle also has a one-year-old iPad app that allows one to buy a Henle edition and then choose as one wishes between various editors. For example, one can pick the Henle fingering for a Beethoven piano sonata (not my favorite) or the fingering by d'Albert (better) or no fingering at all and the same for bowing and such for strings. The app has great potential since they seem to have access to legacy personal libraries by well-known performers. They do not have much of this material available yet, however, and one hopes they will accelerate the pace in adding more.

[John Ruggero]

I just posted concerning the engraving quality of a recent Henle publication, which they graciously published despite the critical nature of my comment. If anyone would care to chime in...

http://www.henle.de/blog/en/2017/11/13/ ... #more-4670

[cGilmore]

A couple of things stood out from their response:

Even if we use computers nowadays…

If?

…our three engravers…

I don't know how it works in the industry, but I assumed they used an army* of freelance engravers. Is this not the case and all their work is done by 3 people, or is it the case where there are 3 people in charge of making final edits from the work of an army of freelancers?

_____

*"army" is probably the wrong word, perhaps "milita"?

[John Ruggero]

I just responded to the two comments on my critical post at:
http://www.henle.de/blog/en/2017/11/13/ ... ahms-gade/

It seems doubtful that Henle would use an army of freelancers, but if there are only three engravers on staff, they are working very hard!

[Schonbergian]

I like the guy who dismisses the entire body of hand-engraved scores because they aren't "clear" or "high-res" (which is total hogwash--I have the Dover reprint of the 1892 Breitkopf plates for Schubert's string quartets, and it's about as clear as any computer score nowadays)--but then also seems to completely forget about every other aspect of engraving. And I'd take an inky but perfectly and warmly engraved score over one that's clear but lifeless any day.

[John Ruggero]

Thanks, Schonbergian. There is a new post on the Henle blog in agreement. Perhaps others will express their opinion. Here is a golden opportunity to express how one feels about the quality of their current engraving directly to Henle...

[Knut]

I finally wrote a post in your support as well, although it perhaps served more as a response to the nonsensical digital vs. analogue analogy than as a very constructive response to Henle's computer engraving. I may have something more useful to say, though, if the discussion carries on.

[Schonbergian]

Also, looking at that score close-up, has Henle changed their music font? At least the treble clef looks different from their normally very distinctive look.

[tisimst]

No, that’s one they’ve used for a while. Which other one are you referring to?

[Schonbergian]

This is from a 2014 Henle score:



In particular, note the angle of the treble clef and how smooth the top of the new clef looks in comparison.