How to create a round

[larryq22]

In SW 2012 for Windows, how do I create a simple 3-line round. For example, part 1 starts; part 2 waits 8 bars, then starts at the beginning; part 3 waits 16 bars, then starts at the beginning. Thanks, Larry

[miker]

Larry,
SW can't do it. (In fact, I'm not even sure how I would do it in Finale.) You will have to use the standard SW workaround: one version for print, and one version, written out completely on 3 staves, for playback.

[Peter Thomsen]

Here is a way to do it in Finale:

Create the canon as one system - with a staff for each part.
Display the barlines on the staves only.

See the attached example.
I don't know whether it can be done in SongWriter.

LeCoqEstMort2012.mus.zip

Only one system

(8.42 KiB) Downloaded 352 times

PS
My example is a layout solution.
Playback is a different story.
But I think that Larry is asking about, how to do the layout.

[miker]

Peter,
I think your attachment didn't open properly in SW2012, for me. I've attached a screenshot of what I get.

[Peter Thomsen]

Mike,

I don't understand.
Is there something that looks wrong?
Please explain.

The attached PDF file shows what I get in Finale 2012.

[miker]

Sorry, Peter. I just don't understand how that is a round.

Anyway, SW can't do the split measures, with 2 beats in one line, and 1 in the next.

[larryq22]

Peter, thanks for the attachment but I can't see how it's a round. Maybe it's not possible in SW.

[Peter Thomsen]

Here is another round - a quite well known round.

FrereJacques.mus.zip

A well known round

(5.79 KiB) Downloaded 319 times

Mike and Larry, I don't understand why you can't see how it's a round?!?

What is the problem?

Please explain.

[miker]

I guess I expect a round to indicate where the other parts should begin. Both of your songs are fine, as long as someone is there to say, "Okay, group two, you begin when group one gets here..." Should that be indicated, somewhere?

I would write it as two (or three) staff systems, with each voice group on their own line.

But I guess we should ask Larry what he wants!

EDIT: I found this on line, illustrating what I mean. It's just a simple thing, but those asterisks show what is needed. So yes, it's easy to notate, but playback will require the full staff arrangement.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Fr%C3 ... acques.svg

[larryq22]

Sorry guys, I didn't think this was such a complicated topic! The other attachments didn't come through as rounds because they played all parts simultaneously, not part 1 alone, then after a couple bars parts 1 & 2 together. What I was looking for is a way of notating a piece of music so that:

the first group starts at the beginning;
the second group waits several bars after group 1 starts, then starts at the beginning;
the third group waits several bars after group 2 starts, then starts at the beginning.

This is just like the Frere Jacques attachment with asterisks indicating where the parts enter. There will probably be a repeat or 2. You'll end up with group 1 alone at the beginning and group 3 alone at the end.

I'd post the ditty I want to create as a round but I don't have permission to add .mus attachments (I tried). Plus, it's not a big deal if it can't be done in SW. I can do a workaround, or experiment with 1st and 2nd endings, etc. I just thought I'd ask.

Thanks for all your help, Larry

[Peter Thomsen]

I thought that the fermatas would give the necessary information about how the parts should come in.

Take a look at the two rounds - now with asterisks.

LeCoqEstMort2012.mus.zip

(8.52 KiB) Downloaded 305 times

FrereJacques.mus.zip

(5.68 KiB) Downloaded 329 times

The asterisks should take care of the layout issue.

Playback is a different problem.
In the "full Finale" you can create expressions that will make the staves silent on specific passes (like make all staves except Staff 1 silent on Pass 1).
I don't know SongWriter, but I don't think that SongWriter can do that.

[miker]

SongWriter can't do the split measures, not the playback expressions. But, thanks!