Instrument name disappears
I raised this issue recently, and it doesn't appear to have been resolved. Maybe I should put this in Bug reports.
I was asked for an example, so there is a short fragment attached.
The short instrument names do not appear, irrespective of which setting re instrument names are set in the Style page. "HIde instrument name if there is only 1 instrument". In my system it makes no difference whether the check box is set or not.
In the larger original, from which this extract was created, initially the string instruments were set up as part of a string quartet - and bracketed together. That shouldn't prevent individual instrument names from appearing though, should it?
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| TEST - instrument names.mscz | 22.31 KB |
Comments
The short instrument name is blank in Stave properties for both instruments. Not surprising you can't get it to show up!
You raised an issue recently? I see none
In reply to You raised an issue recently… by Jojo-Schmitz
in a facebook user group post
In reply to You raised an issue recently… by Jojo-Schmitz
I can't find it either - but not to worry. The solution to the mystery above is helpful, though I'll need to check just a bit further. It didn't occur to me that something like a string quartet, with standard instruments, would not have obvious short names for each instrument as defaults. Surely that could be fixed - it would be more helpful with non-empty defaults - even if not everyone wanted them wouldn't it?
Just checked - it seems to work if the short instrument names are put in for each instrument.
In reply to I can't find it either - but… by dave2020X
I think it is normal practice for small ensembles to not use short instrument names. i.e. the parts are labelled only at the start of the score and not at all, long or short at the start of subsequent systems. That is certainly the case in the small sample of scores of string quartets and wind quintets I have just looked at.
In reply to I think it is normal… by SteveBlower
OK. It would be helpful to have this flagged up though. It is also possible for a small ensemble to be used as part of a much larger work.
If the preferred defaults are for the individual instruments not to have short names, is it possible to have a personalised default set which can be loaded up? This might not be needed every time, but different users might have different requirements - players vs composers etc., and users could then make their own set of defaults.
Another approach would be to have default "greyed" out short names, which could be changed or deleted. This approach is taken by other text features in Musescore - and really it does get to be annoying over time - having to delete and replace the words like "System Text". On any one occasion it's not a big deal but it does gradually become a nuisance over a longer period.
In reply to OK. It would be helpful to… by dave2020X
Not sure what you mean about deleting and replacing System Text - do you mean if you use the palette to add this rather than the menu or keyboard shortcuts? Indeed, when using the palette, the text in the palette is the text added, but if you care about efficiency, that's why the shortcuts exists (eg, Ctrl+Shift+T).
Meanwhile, if you write a lot of string quartets and always want non-standard naming, simply create your own template, by setting up a score the way you like then saving to your Template folder for reuse next time you create a new Score (it will show under Custom Templates in the wizard).
In reply to I can't find it either - but… by dave2020X
I believe I answered that on Facebook, presumably the same thread but my memory is terrible.
Anyhow, as mentioned elsewhere, it's totally standard to not use names for string quartets because it's completely understood, everyone reading it knows the four instruments they stay constant throughout. Only larger scores where it could be harder to keep track of, especially in the presence of Hide Empty Staves, are names generally used.
So you are certainly welcome to add the names and MuseScore will dutifully display them, just keep in mind it isn't really standard or required. The default is intended to produce the standard results, people who want non-standard results can override them.