glissando question (text vs no-text)
Posted: 29 Jan 2024, 12:19
A comment made on the Dorico forum got me thinking about this and wondering if standards might have changed in recent years.
With certain instruments, a line from one note to another is "obviously" a glisssando. For example, in a trombone part I don't think anyone would question what that diagonal line represented.
With certain others, there might pop up questions, like in a string part: is it a glissando? is it a portamento? is it just graphical and meant to imply some sort of directional information?
Personally, I feel it's best to include the text "gliss" on at least the first occurrence of a glissando (when followed within close proximity by further glissandi.)
I would repeat the text at the next occurrence of a glissando if it's multiple measures away, like 6-7 measures or further.
But is taking the tack "the text is always superfluous, the line is obvious" legitimate?
Might one, for example, always forego the "gliss" text in certain instruments while not in others? For example, forego in harp and trombone, but include in strings?
Or do you feel that consistency across the board is a better approach to the question? (ie: if you use the text, use it everywhere.)
With certain instruments, a line from one note to another is "obviously" a glisssando. For example, in a trombone part I don't think anyone would question what that diagonal line represented.
With certain others, there might pop up questions, like in a string part: is it a glissando? is it a portamento? is it just graphical and meant to imply some sort of directional information?
Personally, I feel it's best to include the text "gliss" on at least the first occurrence of a glissando (when followed within close proximity by further glissandi.)
I would repeat the text at the next occurrence of a glissando if it's multiple measures away, like 6-7 measures or further.
But is taking the tack "the text is always superfluous, the line is obvious" legitimate?
Might one, for example, always forego the "gliss" text in certain instruments while not in others? For example, forego in harp and trombone, but include in strings?
Or do you feel that consistency across the board is a better approach to the question? (ie: if you use the text, use it everywhere.)