Lyrics _ Word extension line

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Arturo
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Post by Arturo » Mon Oct 30, 2017 4:17 pm

Hi,
Is there a way to have dashed lines for word extensions ?
Thanks in advance


at8ax
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Post by at8ax » Mon Oct 30, 2017 5:11 pm

Alternating underscores and hard spaces for low baselines, or perhaps setting Maximum Space Between Hyphens (doc options, Lyrics) to something very small?

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N Grossingink
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Post by N Grossingink » Mon Oct 30, 2017 5:12 pm

No. You could use a dashed Smart Shape line but you'd have to enter them all separately.

Just curious - what is the significance of a dashed word extension as opposed to the commonly used solid line?

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Arturo
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Post by Arturo » Mon Oct 30, 2017 5:55 pm

In this case is to indicate that if the singer doesn't hold the note till the end of the duration is ok

Vaughan
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Post by Vaughan » Mon Oct 30, 2017 6:19 pm

I wouldn't understand the meaning of that notation if confronted with it. Wouldn't it be better to include an explanation and leave the WE as in standard practice?
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miker
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Post by miker » Mon Oct 30, 2017 6:40 pm

I would agree with Vaughan. A note would be better than reinventing the notation.
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zuill
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Post by zuill » Mon Oct 30, 2017 8:05 pm

If you want to indicate that the singer doesn't have to hold the note to the end of the duration, you have 2 pieces of notation in conflict here: the WE and the note itself. I agree with others that using unusual notation would be senseless. Either leave things to chance, or give a written instruction, but not a dashed extension. Is this with all notes that have an extension? If so, then what you are really telling the singer is that the written notation is optional and you can do whatever you want. That negates the need for notation in the first place. Or, at the beginning of the piece, just put ad libitum.

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motet
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Post by motet » Mon Oct 30, 2017 8:53 pm

Perhaps put the optional part in smaller noteheads and say "ad lib."

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zuill
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Post by zuill » Mon Oct 30, 2017 8:54 pm

Or, write exactly what you want and hope the singer doesn't run out of air?

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N Grossingink
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Post by N Grossingink » Tue Oct 31, 2017 3:35 pm

I hit upon an idea that might have some merit. You can adjust the terminology and the language as needed.

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Release.png
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MikeHalloran
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Post by MikeHalloran » Wed Nov 01, 2017 1:33 am

Speaking as a singer... A word extension is a clear direction to hold the note till the end.

Lack of an extension is generally interpreted giving the singer some leeway in when to cut off ... unless the conductor overrides the singer’s decision figuring that the copyist missed it.

If you truly want to give the singer discretion, don’t use an extension. Instead, enclose directions the first time italic in parentheses such as (cut off ad lib.) or (release ad lib.) The next time, use (similar). Subsequent times, just leave the extension off.

This should make it quite clear that the singer has discretion when there is no word extension. Unless a musical play, conductors will not be happy and may overrule the singer anyway.
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