[smufl-discuss] Re: SMuFL 0.8 and Bravura 0.8 released

[Michael Scott Cuthbert]

>> I don’t show non-depressed “banana” keys, since they just clutter up
>> the diagram.  I only know the clarinet, but showing the stems on the
>> left-hand E,F,F# keys is probably more standard (see http://
>> myke.trecento.com/fonts/  — clarFinger, which you can definitely
>> borrow anything from).  It’s not part of a font standard, of course,
>> but I would encourage clarity over accurately shaped keys.  The
>> bassClarinet low D, C#, and C might be shown two if there’s a way to
>> do it. But those keys are not standard, so it might not be as useful.
>
> So you would favour the separation of some of the keys from the main "all
> keys open" clarinet fingering chart, so that it's possible to construct a
> simplified chart if need be? If so, which specific keys would you separate
> out, and would you separate each removed key into its own separate glyph,
> or would it be sufficient to chop off just those keys and put them in a
> single separate glyph (cf. the low B/C foot glyphs for flute)?

My suggestion would be two “all open” glyphs.  One showing just the (generally 6 or 7) “holes” (whether covered or not) that represent unmoveable fingers (generally, index middle ring, plus on clarinet alone left thumb) and the other glyph leave as is.   And to provide “Open” forms of everything that currently exists as Closed, HalfClosed, QuarterClosed, etc.

See for instance: http://www.rrcs.org/Downloads/Bb%20Clarinet%20Fingering%20Chart4.jpg which shows that the six basic keys and thumb key (here along with register key) are always shown but the side keys and banana keys are shown only when relevant.  Notice also the “lily” shaped right hand keys which is pretty standard. The rectangular (rather than rhomboid) arrangement for the lowest pinky keys is also more standard.

Thus on the clarinet the simplified all open glyph would be:
fingeringClarLHThumbOpen
fingeringClarLH1stFingerOpen
fingeringClarLH2ndFingerOpen
fingeringClarLH3rdFingerOpen
fingeringClarRH1stFingerOpen
fingeringClarRH2ndFingerOpen
fingeringClarRH3rdFingerOpen

It also would make it easier to make an Albert system clarinet chart if this glyph and individual “open” forms existed, since Albert (German, Turkish, etc.) clarinets have a subset of keys.

for keys, the terminology “Pressed”, “NotPressed” might be preferable to “Closed” vs. “Open” since it’s hard to know what fingeringClarRegisterClosed means — does it mean Pressed (which opens the register key) or not pressed (keeping it closed).

It would be hard to fit into the current shape for bravura but it would be good if the clarinet Thumb key could be closer in size to the 1st 2nd 3rd finger shapes — it’s typically shown that way in fingering charts. The G# glyph could be shrunk a little and the A key moved right to make more room. But these are graphical distinctions that are more about font design than SMuFL.

The four side keys on the clarinet are more often (in my non-scientific experience) numbered in the opposite order so that the largest, lowest key is #1 not #4.  This is due to the frequency with which the keys are used and the historical order in which keys were added.

Bass and Alto clarinets (and even lower clarinets) often have a different representation of 1st finger half-holed that could be a stylistic alternate or a separate glyph.  The 1st finger key is slightly elongated so that it is possible to just push the side of it leaving a small air vent.  See:
http://womsband.wonecks.net/files/2011/07/bass-clarinet-fingering-chart.JPG

Stylistic alternates may be specified for writing letters instead of side keys as in:
http://userpages.umbc.edu/~emrich/clip_image004_0026.jpg
Some people prefer these even when well-shaped icons are available.

The clarinet instructions might have a note saying that names of keys refer to their function without register key.  The E,F,F#,G# keys are sometimes also called B,C,C#,D# keys and it doesn’t matter what is referred to as long as one is consistent.

Again: Huge props to Daniel and the team for including these!

Best,
Myke


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