In reply to Wesselin Christoph Karaatanassov.

Actually, Mr. Wess, I'd read previously some of your posts on the MakeMusic Forum, and I truly admire your work. Your approach to flattened slurs is phenomenal! And your reply here is an honor. But wouldn't it be nice if a software package, such as the one being presented here, enabled the user to effortlessly handle such kinds of slurs? In SCORE, this is achieved by simply changing one parameter (per single object, or globally).

The Steinberg team seems to be tackling a great number of possible problems, particularly typographical ones, and providing brilliant solutions. Their goal is excitingly ambitious. Mr. Spreadbury: I would simply love to see this as a feature (or at least, as an option) in this great product. Here's an example of what Thomas Broadhead, another master of music engraving, has achieved in SCORE to draw beautiful flattened slurs.

http://home.comcast.net/~tom.brodhead/Ives--SymphonyNo4--CriticalEdition--SamplePages--ThomasBrodhead.pdf

See pg. 37, m. 87, percussion; pg. 71, m. 189, woodwinds; pg. 108, m. 24, bassoons.

Not only do they serve to economize vertical spacing in complex scores, but to also direct the reader in a pleasing horizontal flow, avoiding the distraction of what overly round slurs or ties might cause.