Centered beams

[Rob_Tuley]

@John Ruggero

I believe that I tried your approach (see 3. way above) but it changed all the noteheads in the piece.

I admit I haven’t kept track of every twist and turn in this saga

[Romanos]

@John Ruggero

Hi Romanos401. I read your opinion about centered beaming earlier. I was also concerned about reading issues when I did my edition of the Bach Inventions and Sinfonias, since it reproduces the beaming exactly as in Bach’s manuscripts and intermediate students would be using it. To my surprise, not a single student of mine has complained about it or had reading problems because of it since I published the edition in 1999.

In my opinion, important information is lost when one modernizes the notation of the greatest composers. I have written about this extensively at Notat.io. And it is interesting that a notational chain reaction starts once one starts modernizing. I believe that Brahms made a somewhat angry comment to the effect that “once it starts, where does it end?” when an editor of Schumann’s complete works began modernizing the notation.

Fair enough. Bach’s manuscripts are singularly beautiful. There is such a delightful life to them… they are clear, but lively. His strokes are so unique; I just love them. That’s why it’s almost comical to try and render them in generated notation. That said, I have a Telemann edition that uses this type of beaming and it drives me nuts. I’ve considered redoing the whole suite for myself just to avoid it, lol.