Without denigrating in the slightest the obvious erudition of the
contributors to this thread, I must say this stuff is way over my head.
May I relate the following?  As a singer (not a musician -- they really
do separate us at the Conservatory!), I spent a lot of my time at school
taking languages, diction, acting and movement.  Piano is required and
I did pass my performance exam; however, if you don't keep playing,
your 'chops' disappear quite rapidly.

At times, under pressure to learn a piece, I have had recourse to use
the FINALE program on my computer.  One day I was busy working away on
some song or other (my Clavinova Grand is situated directly to the side
of the computer) when the UPS delivery truck arrived at my neighbor's.
My dog is so finely attuned to the approach of potential miscreants
that the groan of this particular type of vehicle always sets him off.

By the instantaneous appearance of a long passage on my treble staff,
I ascertained that he sings a rare form of coloratura, probably
unduplicable.  There is, though, always the hope of more UPS
deliveries.

Claudine Jones
San Francisco

 [ What appears when you accidentally step on the cat?  ;-)  -- Robbie