Re: Beam positions and time signature spacing

[Kieren MacMillan]

Hi Phil,

> Early music tends to work like that

Really? What editions are you using? I’ve spent a great deal of my life singing 
and conducting music composed and/or engraved before ca. 1920, and have found 
it almost invariably uses *beaming* (as well as slurs and extensions, 
sometimes) to indicate melismas — *that* I find intensely hard to sightread 
(and teach to singers).

Rarely have I seen older scores use the "instrumental beaming plus lyric 
extensions (with or without slurs)”, which is what I’m advocating — and which 
(I believe) you’re saying is difficult to read.
I would love to see references to such scores, so I can see what you’re talking 
about.

Thanks,
Kieren.