Figured Bass wuth dynamics and tuplets

[Christof Schardt]

Advise needed for placing figured bass.
A bass staff of a Trio-Sonata contains a lot of fig. bass numbers and also dynamics
E.g. like this:

02-02-2025_18-36-01.png (47.25 KiB) Viewed 76388 times

Often figures and dynamics a applied to the same note.
What would be your advise for this situation.
Leave it as it is?
Move dynamics to the top in case of collision?
Move dynamics to the top in general?
Move figures to the top?
Move dynamics deeper below?

Another source of irritation is the occurence for tuplet numbers.

02-02-2025_18-36-01.png (47.25 KiB) Viewed 76388 times

This could be changed by putting the tuplets to the top in case of collisions.
Thoughts on this?

[John Ruggero]

Probably best to put the dynamics above and figured bass below. That's what I see in the Eulenburg St. Mathew Passion. The tuplet numbers could certainly be on the note head side when necessary. That was actually common at the time.

[Harpsichordmaker]

Just as John says. Dynamics above and figures below, this is the standard in any edition of baroque music.
However, as a continuo-player I have to say that there is much to be said in praise of figures above. This is the standard in manuscripts and it’s more logical because this way you have the bass - left hand - below, and the figures - right hand - above. I have experienced many times how it’s easier to play continuo from a manuscript with the figure above, than from a modern edition with the figures below. Alas, this is not the standard nowadays, so please follow the standard: dynamics above, figures below.

As for the tuplets, again I agree with John.