Indicating instruments and changing them
I have searched for an answer on this topic but can't seem to work it out.
I am preparing a score that alternates organ and SATB choir, and although it is obvious just from looking at the score would like to indicate where the changes are by showing SATB on the short score sections. Is there a way to indicate instrumentation on some systems and not others? When I try, they either all appear or disappear.
Comments
Have S, A, T, B and organ, enter the notes, place system breaks at suitable places and use 'Hide empty staves'
In reply to Have S, A, T, B and organ,… by Jojo-Schmitz
Ah, should have thought of that. No way of adapting the attached? If not, what steps to get what you suggest?
In reply to Ah, should have thought of… by [DELETED] 27476272
It's actually not so obvious to me - it appears at least some systems have a mixture of voice and organ, or maybe those are just meant to be cues? But anyhow, you can certainly add more staves and copy/paste onto them. If you explain what you are looking for in more detail, we can advise better.
In reply to It's actually not so obvious… by Marc Sabatella
That's right: it alternates organ and unison voices with SATB a cappella. It's a score I'm creating from two or three sources but both alternations look like they do in the sources. The only thing I've changed is to put the organ playing in small note. Tell me what you would do for this kind of score?
In reply to That's right: it alternates… by [DELETED] 27476272
If it were me writing for musicians to actually read, I'd put the voices and organ on separate staves. Combining things can save space, sure, but in my experience it costs more than it is wroth in terms of my time engraving it as well as the musicians' time reading/understanding/rehearsing it. I might consider "Hide empty staves" so that truly a capella or completely instrumental parts don't waste space, but in places where its voice plus accompaniment, I'd always have both shown on their own staves with no combining.
In reply to If it were me writing for… by Marc Sabatella
Yes, you're totally right. Besides, being so new to MuseScore I didn't know or to be more accurate had forgotten about hiding empty staves. Is the attached going in a better direction? (What do you think about 'small stave' for the organ?)
In reply to Yes, you're totally right… by [DELETED] 27476272
A much better start, I'd say. You can then use Hide empty staves if you so choose.
As for the size of staves, for the sake of practicality I might advise two separate editions - one for the singers with small staff for organ, and one for the organist with small staff for voice. No one wants their own part to be small - it's the other people's parts you want small. Or just use File / Parts to extra a vocal-only part. That is actually the way a lot of this sort of music might be published (a score with full size accompaniment and small voice / soloist staves, separate parts for voice / soloist only).
In reply to A much better start, I'd say… by Marc Sabatella
Thank you. All sensible.
Incidentally, is it the best way to indicate a reciting note to use 2/1 bars and a breve?
Also, so that I know: is it possible temporarily to remove instrument names or will they always apply to the whole piece / part?
I think I have the same question about time signatures, although I'm pretty sure there is a way to turn them on and off as you go?
In reply to Thank you. All sensible… by [DELETED] 27476272
In general, I wouldn't show time signatures at all for music that is not in fact metric. If there are sections that are metric and others that are not, show the time signatures where you need but use the Join Selected Measures command or Measure Properties to get the actual durations how you want them. Youncan also mark time signatures invisible with "V".