Enhanced tacet

[Christof Schardt]

A Graupner Cantata is being prepared to be debut-performed by the Thomaner-Chor, Leipzig.
The editor and engraver - himself a conductor - wants to provide parts, which help the player to follow the music easily.
So when a voice has a tacet-piece, instead of the usual "tacet" text he provides the start and end stuff of the recitativ and writes a multi bar rest in between. For example:

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In a pragmatical sense this is ok because the musicians will understand it. But on the other hand it is wrong, because the notated voice has stuff and does not pause.

Have others dealt which such stuff and come to better solutions? Interrupted stafflines? Ellipsis? Wavelines? Some sort of substitution symbol?

[benwiggy]

Given that it is on a reduced size staff, it's essentially a kind of Cue. It's a nice idea.

[John Ruggero]

Not sure I understand. So instead of writing "No 4. Recitative Tacet" in say the first violin part, he puts in this cue line entitled "No 4. Recitative etc." instead? I

If so, I see nothing wrong with it. In fact I agree with the engraver that it is better for the players than simply writing a tacet for that section. And I see no reason for the small size staff.

But I may misunderstand the situation.

[Christof Schardt]

You understand it perfectly. It is kind of cue, that was the reason for a small staff.
The alternatives that I consider are those:

Trillsymbol

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Dots

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Waveline

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and the same again but with interrupted staff lines:

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[benwiggy]

I'd prefer the traditional multi-bar rest.

[John Ruggero]

Thanks, Christof. What I guess didn't understand was your question about the multi-measure rest. I would agree with a Ben that a standard rest would be best if there are actually 7 measures of rest in a counted 4/4. A small size staff is not normally used for cues that appear within a movement. Small notes on a standard size staff would be my choice here as well.

[Dan Kreider]

Yes, a multi-bar rest. Anything else would feel like a gimmick!

[JJP]

As somebody who primarily works in recording situations where time is money, I am wary putting anything in front of musicians that doesn't clearly match what they are accustomed to seeing unless it's very clear what is intended. Changing the format of the rests or these "enhanced tacets" seems like too much of an opportunity for a hand to go up with a question.

If I were to use this enhanced tacet in a studio situation, I would mark it "(6). Recitativo (tacet)" and use a standard-size staff with cue-size notes and a standard multi-measure rest symbol under the "7". In some situations where cues may not be immediately clear, we have even added a note like "Do not play -- for reference only." We tend to favor clarity over any formality.

[John Ruggero]

As somebody who primarily works in recording situations where time is money, I am wary putting anything in front of musicians that doesn't clearly match what they are accustomed to seeing unless it's very clear what is intended. Changing the format of the rests or these "enhanced tacets" seems like too much of an opportunity for a hand to go up with a question.

That sums up Arnold Arnstein's advice very well. Every clever new notation is an invitation for questions, diminishing the time available for actual playing or increasing the cost of a session.

[OCTO]

The fact is that the Violin has the rest and that should be done in the full sized staff. Why not to put only the last measures as the reference? The tenor should be in the Voice 2, cued, with the Violin full rest above.

Just my visualization.