When does bar-line go down?
I have a piano theory test real soon and it will require writing modern vocal score in open score.
When I see examples of open score, sometimes the bar lines go through the 4 parts, and sometimes they don't. Is there a reason?
(Below are examples of two pieces, one with bar lines that go through, and one with bar lines that don't.)
(2)2 Comments
Sorted by latest first Latest Oldest Best
In orchestral scores connected barlines (sometimes - though not in this example - along with brackets at the start of a group of staves) are used to denote instrument families.
In choral works we don't connect barlines, for the simple practical reason that they'd get in the way of the lyrics. For the same reason, dynamics go ABOVE the stave in vocal music.
But we may still use brackets or braces to denote groups of voices. Note here how the chorus staves share a bracket, the solo voices don't (and the piano has connected barlines and a curly brace).
Bar lines don’t connect in vocal music. This avoids bar line-lyric collisions.
I notice that both appear to be vocal pieces, but I see no lyrics on the one with connecting bar lines.
As a general rule, don’t connect bar lines in vocal music; do connect them in piano music.
Terms of Use Privacy policy Contact About Cancellation policy © freshhoot.com2025 All Rights reserved.