What is this cross staff tied/slurred note supposed to be?
So I am learning Messiaen's Transports de Joie from L'Ascension suite. Things are fine until there is an ambiguous note on the top of page 16 (we are in F? Major and both hands are in the treble clef):
(Please excuse the heavily marked score.) I have marked with pencil a sharp sign next to the E, but I am really not sure how this should be played. Previously, as in the first and second beat in this measure, there is a melody line in the left hand that is frequently tied to the bottom note of a chord in the right hand. However, since we are in F? Major, I do not know what the bottom not of the chord indicated should be. According to the key signature, it should be an E?, but according to the fact that it's tied, it should be an E?.
Has anyone performed this piece before or knows enough about music typography to answer this for sure?
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I have a couple suggestions and an answer:
Suggestion:
1.) I would check at least one other version / edition of the score to make sure it is properly notated. If it's different, you have your answer.
2.) Messiaen used / created modes of limited transposition so if you want to get really nerdy you can either read an analysis or do an analysis yourself to see whether or not the pitch is supported in the given mode. Though the key signature might say you're in F# major, with Messiaen you are most likely using some sort of pitch collection (note all of the accidentals!)
Answer:
With respect to notation, accidentals only apply to the octave in which they are written. So if it says E# in the top voice but is not marked similarly at the bottom of the chord, it is E natural. Both / all octaves must be notated with an accidental if an accidental is desired. The same is obviously true between hands on the piano as well.
In the LH, the E nat. moves down to D#, exploiting a half-step relationship that seems to be evident in Messiaen's fauxbourdon-like texture here. On the chord in question, the E# now serves as a leading tone resolving to F# in following chord, which as you state in your question is the tonic (or local tonic at least.)
Lastly, I just want to point out that although it wasn't stated, we are speaking about the above excerpt as if both hands are in treble clef.
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