Is it possible to specify that fermatas in one instrument’s line will be copied to another instrument when one does a simple Select phrase, Cmd-C, Cmd-V? The notes, dynamics, and articulations all copy, but the fermata doesn’t UNLESS another instrument in the same system already has a fermata in the correct position? I’m thinking this means that fermatas are more ‘global’ then individual notes and their associated properties like pitch articulation, dynamics, etc….which is, of course true, and certainly makes sense musically…I’m just wondering if there is a way that the ‘first line with the fermata can establish that fermata and it’s rhythmic placement for the entire system through a copy-and-paste action.
Dorico will copy whatever items are selected; you can tell what’s selected because it turns orange.
If your selection includes a fermata, then the fermata will be copied as well. If you select only notes (for example, click on one note, Shift+click on another note to select all in between), then fermatas will not be copied.
If you have notes selected, you can Ctrl+click a fermata to include it in a selection. You can also do a drag selection that includes the fermata.
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OK, being sure that the fermata is selected (which I wasn’t doing before since I was just making my selection by clicking the first and last notes of the phrase. I can now see that that clearly does NOT select the fermata and that solves the ‘first phrase in the system’ problem/question that I had. But when I’m careful to include the fermatain the selection, it also pastes that fermata in all the empty staves in the system, thereby clearly underscoring the fact that the fermata is a global symbol applying to all vertical measures in the system whether they are blank or not. Dorico was being much smarter than I was…
Thanks for your prompt response. This forum really is excellent!
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Yes, this is true. Generally speaking, it doesn’t make sense for one player in an ensemble to hold a note while everyone else keeps playing. (Yes, I know that there are some exceptions to this, and for those you can insert a fermata on a single staff as a playing technique.)
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