Condensed measure two stems instead of a2

Hi, I’m having a hard time with condensing a symphonic score imported via XMLMusic from Finale. Sometimes, it goes flawless but other times I just can’t figure how to fix this issue. I have tried all solutions found in this forum as well as from the WEB.
In the files sent there are 2 flutes, one piccolo, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets and 2 bassoons.

In galley view all seems to be identical and should condense normally but it doesn’t. Any idea how I can fix this issue?


The most important consideration is that Dorico handles Condensing a phrase at a time, where a phrase is defined as everything between simultaneous rests in all instruments within a Condensing Group (and at least one rest that isn’t within a tuplet).

That’s a lot of words to take in, so here’s an illustration:

As you can see, in each case Dorico has to take the approach (regarding stem direction and labelling) that will work for the whole phrase, but only that phrase. If the phrase happens to start with a note in one instrument and a rest in the other, Dorico has no choice but to present the whole phrase as two separate voices. At the next set of rests, it can take a different approach. Keep reading for a way to force a new phrase despite the absence of rests.

As in general with Dorico, the fastest approach is to set good global options, and then override them locally where necessary. In this case, Library > Notation Options > Condensing is the place to set the global options, and Engrave > Condensing Change is the place to locally override.

There are all sorts of things that you could do in the Condensing Change dialog, but in cases such as the one in your screenshot, all you need to do is tell Dorico to start a new phrase at the start of bar 92. You can do that by - in Engrave mode - selecting something at the start of 92 (a note, a dynamic, a barline), then Engrave > Condensing Change, then tick the relevant players in the left side. Ticking nothing else at all will force Dorico to consider bar 92 as a new phrase:

It’s well worth reading the documentation on Condensing Calculations and Considerations and scrolling down through the Condensing Results section too. My point about introducing Condensing Changes to start new phrases is mentioned in a Note in that section.

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Leo, thanks for this. I’ll make sure to sent the link to anyone asking about condensing and who does not know all this.

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Leo, thank you very much for demystifying score condensing.

Thanks Leo for your answer. I had tried to make a condensing change before with no result until I put another condensing change before F and then it works for the measure before F but I don’t get a2 in Measure F.

Question: When making a change, do I have to tick all instruments or only one flutes in that case.


You’d need to tick all the relevant instruments, not just the Flutes.

As to why F isn’t condensing to single stems, that is going to depend on what comes happens between the end of your screenshot and the next set of rests. It’s off your screenshot but it’s crucial information that Dorico is considering when calculating the Condensing Approach at letter F.

Again, Dorico’s seeing everything from letter F to the next rests as a single phrase, unless you add another Condensing Change where the texture next changes.



Might be more clear now.

Anyway, thanks for your answer, it made things more clear. Still, some features are not so easy to understand and to apply.