Multi-measure rests on multiple staves at once - any help?

[Andrew Harrison]

Dear Finale people,

I've just completed an ensemble piece with SATB choir, and I've made a vocal score for the choir with all of the parts together, plus a piano part underneath.

The choir doesn't sing all the time, and they pretty much always sing together (there's no real solo parts). Consequently I want to put multi-measure rests across each of the SATB staves within the vocal score. I also plan to hide the piano part when these rests are in place.

However, I can't seem to make it happen! I've tried ungrouping the SATB parts, but it still doesn't work. (I've already done all the usual things, such as Default Rests etc). I'm not sure if I'm asking to do the impossible, however when I think about a piano part, you can have multi-measure rests in the treble and bass staffs at the same time, so it should be possible, I think?

I've attached my score so you can see what I mean. As always, any help will be most appreciated! (Using Finale 27 - latest version - on a Mac).

Regards,
Andrew Harrison

[Peter Thomsen]

You tell that you are using Finale v27.
Time to update your forum profile (which says: Finale 2014.5, F25.2)


1) In the SATB staves there are Real Whole Rests, preventing multimeasure rests.
You must change them to Default Whole Rests - so that the measures are truly empty.

Fix:
Plug-ins menu > Note, Beam, and Rest Editing > Change to Default Whole Rests


2) The hidden Piano measures prevent multimeasure rests.

Fix:
Document menu > Manage Parts…
Create a new part of only the SATB staff group.
To make the staff group appear in the window Manage Parts, delete the Full Staff Names from the SATB staves.
You can add the Full Staff Names back with staff styles.

In the new “Choir Score” part (with no piano staff group) you can create multimeasure rests.

[Andrew Harrison]

Dear Peter,

As always, thanks for getting back so quickly! Your advice is always appreciated.

Looking at what you are saying...is it, therefore, impossible to create a vocal rehearsal score - ie. with a piano part in there as well - and include multi-measure rests? The only way to do this is to remove the piano altogether...?

Thanks,
Andrew

[Peter Thomsen]

… is it, therefore, impossible to create a vocal rehearsal score - ie. with a piano part in there as well - and include multi-measure rests? The only way to do this is to remove the piano altogether...? …

No need to remove the piano altogether.

In the measures where the choir has multimeasure rests, just delete the notes in the piano part.
As soon as the piano measures are empty, you can create multimeasure rests.

You can still have notes in the piano part where the choir is singing.

If I misunderstand you, then I apologize.

[Andrew Harrison]

Dear Peter,

Again, your explanation worked! So thanks a lot.

Regards,
Andrew Harrison

[davidson02]

Thanks, Peter!

Arlington