Sunday question : mixed metres

Hello dear Doricians,
A little question about mixing metres in a score. Thanks to some recent topics on this forum, I’ve understood how to enter an independent metre in an instrument (option+enter).
But…, and this is quite logical, Dorico thinks of the duration of a note as an absolute rather than a relative value (e.g. a quarter is a quarter), which causes a shift in the barlines.
In order to ensure that the barlines are aligned, for a simple case, for example superimposing a C with a 6/4 or a 2/4 with a 6/8, I suppose we have to enter the compound TS using tuplets : quarter note tuplets for the 6/4 and quaver notes for the 6/8 ; tuplets then hidden in the properties panel ; right ?

But how do we adjust mixed Time signature that don’t satisfy the right ratio so that the bars aren’t out of line ?
Do I have to sit the entrance exam for the Ecole Polytechnique ? :crazy_face:

They must have a ratio somehow, otherwise Dorico can’t notate and play them back concurrently.

Thank you for your answer,
Another point, what about a metre in which the denominator is not a multiple of 2 ? For example : 4/6 ?

For the first question: did you mean something like this?

Yes, Michael, among others.
I suppose you often have to deal with this kind of problem with the repertoire you specialise in (medieval music).
I think, for exemple, to Dufay or Ockeghem Masses.

Dies mit der Hand zu schreiben ist kein Problem ; wenn es aber darum geht, es einer Software verständlich zu machen, ist das etwas anderes ! :scream:

These work, but in a somewhat simplified way:

So you get the 4/6 display, but it remains 4/4. So if you want a real 4/6 you need do use (hidden) tuplets. But at least you can get the time signature graphically.

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Here are two examples I did with this:

EDIT: exchanged first example with the right one demonstrating mixed signatures with 1/12

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ars subtilior pieces are the real test …

Ja, mit der Hand geht es leichter, das stimmt … und man staunt dann oft, wie leistungsfähig die alten Notationen sind…

Das hier ist berühmt-berüchtigt: Sumite karissimi von Mag. Zacharias (14. Jhdt.):

Superbe ! Bravo Michael ! :slightly_smiling_face:

Danke!

Just for comparison: the original in all its glory - this notation was in many ways mightier than ours…

I love this stuff …

I’m always in awe of the beauty of these codices ! :astonished:

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