Incorrect default position of a marcato articulation

• Mar 27, 2019 - 16:43
Reported version
3.0
Type
Functional
Frequency
Once
Severity
S3 - Major
Reproducibility
Always
Status
by design
Regression
Yes
Workaround
Yes
Project
MuseScore

In the attached score, both marcatos have their anchor set to "chord automatic". However, the first marcato is wrongly placed above the note. It should be placed below the note.
Generally, for accent markings, if the stem goes up, the accent marking is placed below the note. If the stem goes down, the accent marking is placed above the note.
This is the only accent marking that is placed above the note if the stem goes up.
The default position is correct in version 2 (marcato is placed below the note if the stem goes up).

Attachment Size
Marcato_Test.mscz 3.94 KB

Comments

• Mar 27, 2019 - 18:15
Status active ⇒ by design

This is correct according to Elaine Gould's "Behind Bars", the standard reference for modern engraving. She writes:

"The strong accent ^ usually goes above the stave, regardless of stem direction, because of the amount of space it occupies. Placing the accent above the stave also avoids its inversion v, which, in some contexts, may look like an upbow symbol in string writing".

Reply

• Dec 29, 2020 - 19:31

In jazz and big-band writing, the marcato is used in combination with the tenuto and accent to show the desired articulation for syncopated lines. All these articulatiions should be either above or below the staff, depending on the stem direction. Usually for this type of writing there is no confusion with up-bow markings.

It would be great if a choice were provided, either a separate under-the-staff marcato or a way to control which way it is flipped.

Thanks so much for this fantastic product. I love Musescore, and am thrilled with the new automatic spacing.

Reply