Re: Alternating time signatures

[Peter Bjuhr]

On 2014-05-09 00:08, Urs Liska wrote:
> > 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
>
> I've never seen this and would probably not consider using it. But if 
> Gould suggests it I think I will have to take it into account.

I've never seen it either, but I think there's a good point in 
clarifying the irregularity. It's too easy to assume a pattern. I think 
the point with using alternating time signatures is to simplify the 
notation without obscuring it.

> > > 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.
>
> Actually I _have_ been exposed to that kind of crappy instrumental 
> part in orchestral music ;-) It's so ridiculous: You have 50 measures 
> rest - only to realize _during rehearsal_ that there are lots of time 
> and tempo changes in between ...

Although I mainly agree with Gould here I think this can at least partly 
be solved by using lower-case 'r' instead of the upper-case 'R'.

Best
Peter