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Music engraving: Video and pictures
Henle's Urtext editions are not only noted for the scholarly accuracy of their text but also for the clear, razor-sharp appearance of the musical text as well as the excellent printing. Up until 2000 G. Henle Publishers’ editions were engraved by hand. Nowadays the musical text is set using a computer.
The following clips are taken from a particularly interesting film documentation from the year 1997.
The most important steps in the engraving process are as follows:
1. The engraver generally starts with a manuscript put together by the editor, which must first of all be marked up with page and line breaks. It is at this point that the most practical page turns have to be determined.
Video: WMV (ca. 140 KB) - MPG1 (ca. 1,5 MB)
2. The second stage involves defining the distance between the staves and etching the staff lines into the metal plate using a five-pronged stylus. The space between the staves varies in accordance with the pitch ambitus of the music. A good engraver will find just the right visual balance. Once this has been done, the notes are spaced out horizontally according to their length. In so doing, the engraver sketches out the position and intervals between the notes on the plate using a steel pen. A practicable page layout greatly aids legibility.
Video: WMV (ca. 210 KB) - MPG1 (ca. 2,5 MB)
3. Using small steel punches the signs are hammered into the plate one at a time. This is done in mirror image so that the page will read from left to right once it has been printed. Bar-lines, note heads and stems, ledger lines, beams, slurs, as well as any other special signs and text signs are hammered in or engraved by hand without any help.
Video: WMV (ca. 200 KB) - MPG1 (ca. 2,3 MB)
4. Following this, the engraver uses a three-edged rasp to remove protecting margins and any edges.
Video: WMV (ca. 140 KB) - MPG1 (ca. 1,5 MB)
5. A so-called “green offprint” is made from the finished plate, on which the editor can make any corrections.
Video: WMV (ca. 100 KB) - MPG1 (ca. 1,1 MB)
Download the complete video here.
Total time: about 7 minutes: WMV (c. 82 MB)
Video: Anneliese Bente
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▪ Download Series of pictures, A4, mono
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