free meter
Is it possible to compose in free meter on Musescore, i.e. no time signature, no baronies? If so, how?
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Is it possible to compose in free meter on Musescore, i.e. no time signature, no baronies? If so, how?
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Comments
Welcome. See: https://musescore.org/en/handbook/3/early-music-features
In reply to Welcome. See: https:/… by Shoichi
This seems to be what I need, but I'm writing a multi-part piece, and when I tried it, it erased all but the top part, leaving the barlines there. Any idea why that might be happening?
No baronies now or ever (sorry, I couldn't help chuckle). You can make a large measure and just insert notes timewise over and over. Here's an example of mine: https://musescore.com/bsg/scores/5346131
In reply to No baronies now or ever … by [DELETED] 1831606
Damn autocorrect! I meant barlines, of course. I want the entire piece to be unmetered, and it is a multipart piece. Your suggestion seems like it might work, but I'd have to come up with a really bizarre time signature, and then make it invisible, to achieve this. Am I right?
In reply to Damn autocorrect! I meant… by gimmeapony
I actually like the baronies, duchies, etc. No, if you insert notes timewise, MS will expand the measure as much as it needs, without changing the time signature.
In reply to I actually like the baronies… by [DELETED] 1831606
I know how to make the measures larger. My problem is I don't want a time signature at all. I want the entire piece to be unmetered. If I make a really big 4/4 measure, I'll still only be able to get the equivalent of 4 quarter notes in the measure.
In reply to I know how to make the… by gimmeapony
In staff/part properties, remove the check from show time signature. The default measure will still be the same as the time signature, but it has to be something. When you enter note, click the N on the toolbar and select insert mode to enter notes. The measures will now grow with every note you enter. When your ready for a new measure, you will probably have a rest or two at the end of the measure, select them and press ctrl+delete to remove them.
In reply to I know how to make the… by gimmeapony
Right click->Staff Properties->uncheck Show time signature.
In reply to Right click->Staff… by Shoichi
So it sounds like what you are both saying is that you can't write actual unmetered music with MuseScore. Oh well, you get what you pay for, I guess.
In reply to So it sounds like what you… by gimmeapony
That is unmetered music. You supress the time signature and you may make measures as long or short as you need or want to.
In reply to That is unmetered music. You… by mike320
No, all that is is hiding the time signature. You still have to abide by the rules of how many beats go into that measure, no matter if the time signature is visible or not, or how long or short the measure is. I'm not sure I'm making clear what it is I need to do. Maybe I'll try to find an example.
In reply to No, all that is is hiding… by gimmeapony
No you DON'T. If you insert notes timewise, it couldn't care less how many beats go into the measure. You can put as many as you want. The time signature is ignored.
In reply to No, all that is is hiding… by gimmeapony
To be clear: what was at one point called "timewise" note input is now sinmply called "Insert" mode. Click the arrow next to the "N" (note input) icon on the toolbar to enable this mode. It allows you to insert as many notes into a measure as you like. Or use normal note input mode bu press "Ctrl+Shift" while pressing the keyboard shortcuts for the various notes A-G to insert rather than replace.
In reply to To be clear: what was at one… by Marc Sabatella
Thank you. This is all clear now. I had no idea what was meant by "timewise." I'll follow your suggestion. Thanks to all who chimed in to help.
In reply to Thank you. This is all clear… by gimmeapony
That is 100% my fault for using the foolish term that we used to use to describe such insertion. Bad me!
In reply to That is 100% my fault for… by [DELETED] 1831606
No worries. The definition was unclear to me. I have a master's in music and have never encountered the word "timewise" in this context.
In reply to No, all that is is hiding… by gimmeapony
To quote myself _ When you enter note, click the N on the toolbar and select insert mode to enter notes._ This is how you make a measure unmetered.
In reply to To quote myself _ When you… by mike320
Some music, especially liturgical music, has metered antiphons but free (chant-like) verses. How do we notate that? (Not by staff properties since it applies to the whole staff, beginning to end, verses and refrain alike.) One way would be to have a "free time signature" available in the time signature palette, and when you insert it (even if it's not visible), bars are no longer timed till you insert a more traditional (=any other) time signature. I thought of adding a staff with free meter, and hiding blank staves, but that won't work because time signature is the same across all staves. Is there a way that works now? If not, is there a better way than the "free time signature" I'm suggesting? Thank you.
In reply to Some music, especially… by jrceloni
This thread is 5 years old. Here is the current advice on this topic.
See https://musescore.org/en/handbook/4/pickup-and-non-metered-measures
And https://musescore.org/en/handbook/4/mensural-notation-and-mensurstrich
In reply to This thread is 5 years old. … by SteveBlower
Thank you. Here are my comments after reading both those pages:
I attach my leadsheet (as .mscz and .pdf) so you see what I wound up with. If you see a better way, please share.
BTW I'd never heard of or seen Mensurstrich. Thanks again. *j
PS: Yes, I know this is an old thread; I just didn't see a newer one about the issue. I'm grateful that you saw and replied to my addition.