Engraving and Typesetting
Engraving (or typesetting) is the process of putting the music on the page. The term ‘engraving’ comes from the process of etching music onto metal sheets, to which paper and ink are applied. Nowadays, everything is accomplished digitally on software like Sibelius (which I use) or Dorico/Finale/Musescore/Lilypond.
It is vital to do this well, as the readability of music directly impacts both how well a musician can perform, and how a musician thinks of you. If you are thinking of self-publishing your own compositions, it is important to present it as best as possible.
Hiring an engraver for one-off projects or for longer periods of time is a great way to quickly improve the quality of your product.
Engraving fits neatly between composition/orchestration and publishing - generally it is the final step before a musician gets ahold of your work.
Engraving is about:
- Clarity of expression
- Simplicity to aid sight-reading
- Managing thousands of on-page objects with precision to avoid collisions
If you have a piece that needs engraving, contact me below for prices.
Contact me about Engraving and Editing
Editing
Editing breaks down into a variety of tasks:
- Studying and analysing the music at hand to understand the composer's style,
- Managing a variety of sources,
- Clarifying mannerisms of the composer,
- Rectifying mistakes by the composer,
- Producing a list of changes/alterations called a Critical Review, which allows people studying the work to understand the thought process of the editor.
Editing has many terms associated with it, from diplomatic editions to documentary editions and all in between. In music, the two principal terms we use are Critical and Performing. A performing edition makes the best possible product for someone to perform from. A critical edition maintains academic rigour and attempts to make the most faithful edition to the composer's wishes.
Editing your music is, like engraving, a critical process between creating the work and publishing it. I can help you:
- Discover mistakes, errors, and smooth out poorly-notated music,
- Produce the best possible product for your musicians.
Although editing is typically done at the same time as engraving, it is possible to advise on editing only. Use the contact form above to enquire about editing projects.
I can also teach engraving and editing principles online if you would like to improve your own skills.
Examples of my work
The majority of editing and engraving is for my own publishing business (trading as OwenOrchestration) where I work on Critical-Performing Editions of Arnold Bax's orchestral music. These scores have been performed by BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, English Symphony Orchestra, and a variety of other orchestras across the UK, Europe, and the USA.
However I also edit and engrave professionally as a freelancer. The majority of this work is for Pocket Publications, who are a music hire library with a specialism in operas and reductions. Recent engraving has been performed by Opera Holland Park for a production with glowing reviews.