Measure parameters

Subjects covered:

• Time and key signatures indication
• Measures numbering
• Multimeasure rests
• Free measures

Time and key signatures indication

By default, Pizzicato handles the display of the time signature at the beginning of the score and when a change occurs. Similarly, the key signature is shown at the beginning of each staff as well as when a change occurs. It can be interesting to modify this automatic behaviour in order to force a time or key signature indication, or to hide one.

Open the Ex075.piz example. Select measure 5 on both staves:

In the Edit menu, select the Measure parameters... item. The following dialog appears:

We want for example to hide the key signature displayed in this measure and to force the display of the time signature.

• Click the Time signature check box. The multiple choice is by default Automatic. It means that Pizzicato handles the time signature indication automatically. The second choice forces the indication and the third hides it. Select the second choice.
• Click the Key signature check box. By default it is Automatic. To hide it, check the Hidden box.
• Click OK . The score becomes:

Measures numbering

Normally, Pizzicato numbers the measures by starting from the first. It can be interesting to modify this arrangement. A typical example is an incomplete measurement (for example with only one beat) to start a score. This measure is not counted by convention.

• Select the first measure
• Call the measure parameters dialog box
• Check the Measure numbers check box
• The first choice is Automatic and means that each measure is numbered. Check the second option and the measure will not be counted. The third choice lets you assign an arbitrary number to the measure. In this case, the following measures will be numbered according to this arbitrary number.
• Click OK . The score becomes:

Number 1 is assigned to the second measurement and the first one is not counted. If the first measure must only contain one beat, it should be specified to Pizzicato in the following way:

• Select the first measure
• Call the measure parameters dialog box
• Check the Measure duration box
• Just below, check the Fixed item and fill in the text box with "1"
• Click OK.
• Add a quarter note in the measure and four quarter notes in the next measure, to get:

Listen to the score: Pizzicato plays the first measure as if it had only one beat. You may also reduce the size of the first measure.

Multimeasure rests

When an instrument does not play during several measures, it is common to write only one measure, with a rest sign surmounted by a number of measures to count. Here is for example how to create a multimeasure rest of 10 measures to be counted starting from measure 2:

• Select measure 2
• Call the measure parameters dialog box
• Check the Measure duration box
• Just below, check the Multiple measure choice and fill in the associated text box with "10"
• Click OK
• In the Graphic symbols tool palette, select the tool
• Click on measure 2, first staff. The score becomes:

The "10" number specifies the number of measures to be counted and the numbering goes from 2 to 12 automatically.

Free measures

Pizzicato lets you create free measures, i.e. measures which do not contain a fixed duration. You can thus add notes freely and they will be equally distributed in the measure. When Pizzicato plays a free measure, it goes on to the following measure when all notes has been played. The time signature indication is thus no more necessary (you can hide it). Let us see how to transform measure 12 into a free measure.

• Select measure 12
• Call the measure parameters dialog box
• Check the Measure duration box
• Just below, check the Free on the basis of a "Quarter note" box
• Click OK
• Fill in 7 quarter notes in measure 12, you get:

By listening to the score, Pizzicato plays the first 2 measures, waits during 10 measures and then plays the 7 quarter notes before going to the next measure. Notice that when you use the measure parameters dialog box, it affects all selected measures. In all cases, it affects all the staves of the selected measures, because the various staves of the same measure must have the same duration and number.