Caesura Gap Duration %

Dorico
1

I cannot find the answer in help. What does the Gap Duration % for caesuras represent in the lower panel.

  1. I thought it was percent of quarter note; so 50% would represent an 1/8 note pause. Is that correct?
  2. If #1 is correct, does it still represent 1/8 in 12/8?

Follow-up: I think a rall. before a caesura messes up the caesura somehow.

2

I’ve experienced the same issue. Ensure the tempo change does not clash with the caesura. It can be helpful to check the tempo lane to see how Dorico is processing the instructions.

3

The gap duration of a caesura is a percentage of the beat length. The beat is determined by two values in the time signature:

  • The first number in the beat grouping of the numerator
  • The denominator

Here are some time signatures and the corresponding beats:

 Time Signature │      Beat
────────────────┼────────────────
  [1+1+1+1]/4   │ quarter
  [1+1]/2       │ half
  [2+3]/4       │ half
  [3+2]/4       │ dotted half
  [3+3]/8       │ dotted quarter
4

Thank you for answering, @johnkprice. Fortunately, I understand time signatures, but I’m sure your explanation will help many people.

My question for anyone: In 12/8, does the gap duration percentage refer to a percentage of an 1/8, a 1/4, or a dotted 1/4?

(Technically, in 12/8, an 1/8 is a beat, but 12/8 is usually counted and conducted in 4.)

5

Entering 12/8 in the meter popover is the same as entering [3+3+3+3]/8, so the caesura gap duration is a percentage of the length of a dotted quarter.

6

@johnkprice, Thanks for giving me the answer (dotted 1/4) but I do not see the logic. How you get dotted quarter out of that? You could write 12/8 several ways.

Dorico must have a rule for this, but I cannot find it in the documentation.

8

By default, Dorico beams 12/8 as [3+3+3+3]/8, so it takes the dotted quarter as the “beat”.

9

To determine the beat grouping in the numerator of a time signature, select it and open the Time Signatures panel in the right zone. Then hover the mouse pointer over the highlighted time signature under Used in This Flow to display the beat grouping. The following image shows that the beat grouping when entering 12/8 in the meter popover is 3+3+3+3:

Image
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10

Very clear, @asherber, thanks.

@johnkprice, I see what you are saying now. Thank you for helping.