Re: Separate dynamics from notes

[Wols Lists]

On 27/04/2023 13:57, Gianmaria Lari wrote:
> Thank you Leo for your answers and help.
>
>     you’ll probably need to be a little more specific about the use
>     case, perhaps also supply example code.
>
>
> Regarding my second question, let me try to be more clear
>
> I have a score.
> I want to write the dynamics using a separate variable.
> Suppose that on the first quarter of the tenth measure there is a 
> "forte" and then on the note of the next bar there is a "piano." If all 
> the measures have the same "time signature", let's say of 4/4, then it's 
> pretty easy: just count the beats and multiply by 4. Finally you will write:
>
>     s1*9 s4\f s4*3 s4\p
>
>
> The operation is not difficult but making mistakes is pretty easy. In 
> fact this system works well if the "time signature" does not change or 
> changes very little in the piece. Otherwise you have to add up the 
> duration of each note individually and making mistakes becomes extremely 
> easy.
>
> This thing always seemed so inconvenient to me that I thought it was 
> practically unusable. Or that there was some trick to maybe have 
> Frescobaldi tell me the "position" of the note (meant as numbers of 
> quarter or eight notes from the beginning).
I write band parts, where I have multiple parts, conflicting dynamics, 
etc etc.

When you're doing that, the easiest way to start with is a variable I 
call voiceStaff. Using spacer notes, I define the double bars, rehearsal 
marks, melody names, tempo markings, key signatures, all that sort of stuff.

I then build on it with all the instrument voices, occasionally I'll 
have a section dynamic variable, whatever.

I know what you mean with your "so inconvenient", it is a pain in the 
arse. But for me, it's the best tool for the job, the alternatives are 
even worse. Because all the parts hang off this single voiceStaff, it 
makes mistakes far more glaringly obvious. I've caught other 
transcribers' errors this way :-)

Cheers,
Wol