Re: Alternating time signatures

[Peter Bjuhr]

On 2014-05-08 12:34, Urs Liska wrote:
> No, I wouldn't need anything like that.
> The idea (how I would suggest to enter this kind of alternating 
> meters) is:
> - Print the combined time signature once
> - hide the time signatures for the following music
> - use \time just as normal, with all implications to beaming, 
> beatStructure etc.
>
> Other than with \compoundMeter the printed time signature does not 
> really affect the music. I would simply make the first part of it the 
> effective \time by default. 


Good progress with the script for this! I would just like to refer to 
Gould, she recommends using a hyphen when the alternate is irregular. 
The passage about this is rather short so I transcribe the whole of it:

> When metres alternate irregularly, place both time signatures at the 
> outset, with a hyphen between them, for clarity: 2/4 - 3/4
>
> This notation is useful in chamber music, to save writing in the many 
> alternating time signatures, although in conducted music it is better 
> to have each time signature where required. In individual parts, rest 
> bars will require the relevant time signature - since the player will 
> otherwise have no indication of bar length.
Behind Bars, p. 179

Best
Peter