Re: Telemann's "Strich"

[Simon Albrecht]

On 20.12.2015 12:44, Robert Blackstone wrote:
> Dear list,
>
> I’m working on a bilingual edition of Telemann’s  Singe-, Spiel- und 
> General-Baß-Übungen, a very nice little tutorial consisting almost 
> entirely of songs with a figured bass line and a written-out realization.
> In the bass lines Telemann sometimes adds short straight lines 
> parallel with the note heads, a sort of straight slur, indicating that 
> the right hand should not play chords except on he first on these 
> “slurred” notes. See the attached Telemann's_Strich.png

I definitely agree with Richard’s interpretation that these are figured 
bass extenders. The quote in your first example makes it really obvious: 
„Der Strich bedeutet, dass die rechte Hand daselbst ruhe“ – ‘The line 
means that the right hand should rest there.’
For a reengraving it’s definitely better to have them outside the staff, 
together with the actual figures. One shouldn’t try sticking too closely 
to the appearance of 18th century writing/engraving.

Yours, Simon