Writing Out Percussion Parts For Orchestral Score

In writing out a non-pitched percussion part which is easier to read on a one line staff, how

would you go about writing a cue from the violas?

Would you

- have the melodic cue float around the one line staff

- change the staff from one to five lines w/ different clef for the cue

- add another staff just for the cue

- use a five line instead of one line staff for the percussion part all the time

- not use any pitched cues

- do something else

Change the staff to a 5-line staff for cues. One line is easier to read for non-pitched percussion otherwise.

How do you feel about the possibility of having the melody float around the

percussionist's single staff line? It adapts the cue into the non-pitched

percussion "world" with a minimum of complication.

That's stupid. If the cue is for a melody then write the melody, not some abstraction of it. Percussionists read pitches regularly and deliberately dumbing the cues down to remove them is insulting to the player. Besides, it would be harder to read.

That's stupid.

Sir, it is not appropiate, helpful or credible for a moderater to judge ideas with a derogatory tone. You

can easily express your opinions in a polite manner. Please try harder to moderate your comments.

I'm not being rude, I'm just telling it like it is. It's a stupid idea.

Grow up.

That's stupid. If the cue is for a melody then write the melody, not some abstraction of it. Percussionists read pitches regularly and deliberately dumbing the cues down to remove them is insulting to the player. Besides, it would be harder to read.

You're a dick.

It is not common practice for melodies to be written on anything besides 5-line staves. Any other situation would cause a performance to be postponed or canceled.

It's certainly a valid point of view to have, to not write out cues of melodic lines for non-pitched

percussion instruments using the same non-pitched staff. However, it is an exaggeration to state

that it would cause a performance to be canceled. Can we please express our opinions in a less

confrontational god/tradition fearing, law, order and punishment style? I am not looking for an

arguement, but simply exploring the possibilities. There are many questions about how to go

about improving writing out percussion parts, as percussion has evolved in it's orchestral role,

and I'm sure we can approach them calmly.

An even basic cursory study of actual percussion parts would easily answer these questions. If you can't find real ones peruse some of the parts on IMSLP. Very interesting publishing choices.

And no, its not an exaggeration. Rehearsals will be stopped if the parts are not adequate for rehearsing.

I am interested in your opinion. The IMSLP recommendation is helpful.

The statement "rehearsals will be stopped if the parts are not adequate for rehearsing" is obvious

but is being used as a deceptive argument.

If I were you, I would try it, and if it looks like it would work, keep it.  If it seems confusing, try something else.  Percussionists don't need to know the specific notes being used in a cue, only the rhythm and shape of the melody, and what instrument is playing it.  It's just to help them find where they are.  It's really not a big deal.  What matters is if it will work or not, not whether or not it's conventional.