Cadenza writing

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tanyaviola
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Post by tanyaviola » Sat Jan 08, 2022 9:06 pm

We would like to write JUST a cadenza for a solo instrument. We've done this before within a piece (this time there will be no 'piece', just the cadenza alone) and had to count it out and create time signatures for each measure, then hide the time signatures and barlines, etc. Seems to me Finale should have a way to write a freeform cadenza these days. I just want one measure....where I can type in any notes of any length and not have to deal with time signatures or barlines. Does this exist yet?

T.
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motet
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Post by motet » Sat Jan 08, 2022 10:10 pm

You can write it with any convenient "small" time signature(s) (e.g. 2/4, 3/4, 4/4) and let Finale format the measures so the system breaks are good, then use JW Meter and Rhythm on each system separately to consolidate the measures and hide the time signature. That's how I did this (the measure numbers are just for reference):
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1132.png

tanyaviola
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Post by tanyaviola » Sun Jan 09, 2022 5:35 pm

So basically still jumping through hoops. Seems like such a simple idea...freeform writing! Can't believe they haven't added this to Finale in all these years.

Thanks,
T.
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motet
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Post by motet » Mon Jan 10, 2022 2:11 am

Finale is pretty measure-oriented, and it might be hard to implement what you want.

I think Dorico will let you freely enter a cadenza.

mmike
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Post by mmike » Mon Jan 10, 2022 4:14 pm

Why can't you just make one very long measure? In this example it's one measure of 300 16th (time signature hidden), I then quickly entered any amount of notes (randomly, excuse the content, not meant to be music ...). If it's longer then your page width, you can break it up with the Split Measures feature (with invisible bar lines)
cadenza.jpg
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tanyaviola
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Post by tanyaviola » Tue Jan 11, 2022 1:00 pm

mmike wrote:
Mon Jan 10, 2022 4:14 pm
Why can't you just make one very long measure? In this example it's one measure of 300 16th (time signature hidden), I then quickly entered any amount of notes (randomly, excuse the content, not meant to be music ...). If it's longer then your page width, you can break it up with the Split Measures feature (with invisible bar lines)cadenza.jpg
What did you do to get this? Random time signature or did you count out all the beats you needed so it would 'fit' in. I think there's a setting to allow extra beats in a measure...wondering if that's what I'll need. Did you hide the time signature first? I think either way it will need some manual manipulation of moving some notes around here and there to get it to look right.

Still...come on, Finale....would one setting of 'freeform' be that difficult?
Finale 26.2.1.464, OS Mojave
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mmike
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Post by mmike » Tue Jan 11, 2022 1:39 pm

Like I said, I created one very long measure (in this case 300 16th). Then enter whatever notes you want. You can hide the time signature whenever, it's really just visual. When you are done and if your measure is too long, split it at the end and delete the empty measure. If you want to adjust the appearance of how much you have on one staff, split it at that point to create another or several more measures.

Even simpler, you can also just write your cadenza in any measured time signature(s) and then hide the bar lines and time signature. Afterwards you can adjust the system breaks to yur liking the same way as you would normally do it.
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motet
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Post by motet » Tue Jan 11, 2022 5:40 pm

If you just hide barlines, you'll have extra space where they are and it won't look right. I believe I got good results using the method described above, and it was not a big deal. I do agree it would be nice if it was just built in.

Turning off "check for extra notes" won't work (the shaded notes are displayed off the page).
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Perotinus
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Post by Perotinus » Tue Jan 11, 2022 6:46 pm

The plug-in "JW Conceal Barlines," found at https://www.finaletips.nu/ will remove the default spaces left when barlines are hidden. Here is the description of the plug-in from the site.

JW Conceal Barlines

Hides the barlines in the selected region, to give the impression that the barlines never existed. Useful for measure-less music (such as cadenzas), for example. The plug-in does the following:

Hides the barline
Hides the time signature (since version 1.01)
Removes the default spacing gap before the barline
Removes the default spacing gap after the barline
Omits the measure from inclusion in measure numbering
Also includes a Reveal Barlines function as well, to restore any barlines that has been hidden in this way.
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motet
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Post by motet » Tue Jan 11, 2022 6:52 pm

Excellent! Thanks.

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motet
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Post by motet » Tue Jan 11, 2022 6:56 pm

Tried it, and it seems great. Hides the time signatures, too.

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michelp
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Post by michelp » Tue Jan 11, 2022 7:21 pm

Note that the functionality of the JW Conceal Barlines plug-in has been integrated into the more recent JW Meter and Rhythm plug-in (Transform to Contents -> Free Time -> Conceal Barlines).
 
conceal.jpg
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motet
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Post by motet » Tue Jan 11, 2022 7:30 pm

Thank you. Note that it says "Creates a time signature that matches the contents...", but it doesn't do that (which would be undesirable, I think, due to beaming). In fact it leaves the time signature alone. The JW plug-ins are, of course, invaluable, but documentation has never been one of their strong points!

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