Old-style Incipits

[Jon_Arnold]

I’ve been trying to get old-style incipits (with mensural symbols and rests) for a while, and I’m excited that I was able to get much closer today.

The demo file below has the following tweaks:

1. Incipit created with system break on first bar (hide systemic barline) and coda (hide coda symbol, coda gap width 0). Incipit bar has tighter and even note spacing; first real bar has a bar number and spacing reset. See Adventures in early music with Dorico, volume 2 - Scoring Notes
2. Custom mensural clefs thanks to example code here: Create instrument with custom clef - #7 by FredGUnn
3. Custom tonality system with mensural accidentals. See Change key signature symbols - #2 by dspreadbury
4. Open meter signature changed to mensural symbol in Music Symbols Editor.
5. Custom notehead set for mensural noteheads. These are useable for semiminims and larger. I don’t know how to specify a mensural stem for fusae, but most pieces don’t start with those in my experience.
6. The hardest part was that any preceding rests couldn’t take up more horizontal space, so I created a custom notehead set for each rest value, and used dummy quarter notes with hidden stems. This also allows them to be moved vertically easily. I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s an easier way to do this, but it works. (This was quite tedious because of the way notehead sets use common noteheads. This post was very helpful: Creating independent notehead sets - #19 by JustusR)
7. All notes in incipit had playback suppressed.

The zip file contains the Dorico project file and lib files for the tonality system and clefs. Those have to be placed in C:\Users<user>\AppData\Roaming\Steinberg\Dorico <version#>\DefaultLibraryAdditions on Windows and /Library/Application Support/Steinberg/Dorico <version#>/DefaultLibraryAdditions/ on Mac. You may need to create the folder.

incipits.zip (803.4 KB)

One thing I know is lacking is support for key signatures with two B-flats, as mentioned here: Change key signature symbols - #4 by Jon_Arnold

Feel free to improve and repost!

[Chris_Davey]

Re your 6. I’m a fan of playing techniques for incipit rests. Have a look at this.

I created a PT of a double whole note rest
Added it to the incipit G
Nudged the G right so that it looked in the right place (the rest of the bar needs adjusting, etc.)
Moved the PT left and down

Is this enough explanation?

Here’s the file. BTW it’s in Dorico 6 and your file is in Dorico 5.

Incipit rests as PTs_ChrisD.dorico (1.4 MB)

Chris

[Vaughan_Schlepp]

Nice work, both of you! @Jon_Arnold: slightly OT but I attempted to change the use of Halion (which I’ve uninstalled on my system) to Noteperformer but for some reason was unable to do so, as Noteperformer didn’t show up as a choice. Any suggestions?

[Jon_Arnold]

I think that’s definitely easier to set up! I did want to avoid a lot of manual movements, especially coming from Musescore where all these had to be inserted as symbols.

[Jon_Arnold]

I’m sorry, I’m not sure why that is. Is there a way to open the playback template again?

[johnkprice]

Is this the double B-flat you want on the Bassus I staff?

Edit the Mensural Key Signatures tonality system, duplicate the Mensural flat accident, give the duplicate a new name and add another mensural flat an octave below the existing one:

Then add a new key signature using the accidental you just created:

Finally, select the first note or rest in the Bassus I staff and Alt/Opt-click the key signature in the right zone you just created.

[Jon_Arnold]

Ah, very clever. Nice work, thanks!

[Jon_Arnold]

I’ve updated the lib file and .dorico file to include the octave flat signature that @johnkprice suggested. I’ve also made a second flow that contains three ficta accidentals and a coloration line for use elsewhere. You can keep this in the file and hide the flow from the score and parts.

incipits.zip (813.8 KB)

Enjoy!