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Topic: Two semibreves on the same line (Read 3462 times) previous topic - next topic

Two semibreves on the same line

How can I put two semibreves on the same line to indicate both parts sing that same note?

Re: Two semibreves on the same line

Reply #1 –
The kind of note doesn't matter, you could put a breve and a minim on the same note at the same time. In fact, it's like putting any other two notes on the same staff at the same time: put one of them (move cursor and press "enter", move the cursor to where you want the other one, press "control-enter." NWC will merge stems if possible (if they are the same note, it's not possible) or point the upper note's stem up, the other one's stem down. (obviously, if they are the same note, it gets bi-stemmed.)

The caveat is that you must make SURE that you aren't forcing note stems when you do all this. If you were, then NWC couldn't put the stem in, and so can't place the note.

Re: Two semibreves on the same line

Reply #2 –
The caveat is that you must make SURE that you aren't forcing note stems when you do all this.

Actually, you can force a stem direction. However, the stem direction of subsequently added notes has to make sense. In the unison example, if you have stem-up on the first note, you have to set stem-down in order to add the second note.

Also, when chording notes of mixed durations, you have to enter the shorter duration first. The actual time value "occupied" by the resulting chord on the staff will equal the shorter value, but the longer duration will sound correctly. (More than two different durations are not possible, you have to use layering for such situations.)

Re: Two semibreves on the same line

Reply #3 –
The most unobvious part of this is that whole notes (semi-breves) have stem directions even though they don't have stems.  The stem directions of the two notes which are chorded must differ.  If you are not forcing them this will be handled by the program.  If you have set the direction for the first note (using the little up/down stem buttons on the tool bar, or the property box brought up by highlighting the note and either right clicking it or CTL-E) then the second have the opposite direction.

Cyril

Re: Two semibreves on the same line

Reply #4 –
The best way to achieve something approaching the usual visual effect of 2 semibreves, or whole notes, on the same line or space, slightly offset, or overlapping, is to use layering, then use the "Note" dialogue box (highlight note, then press CTRL+e) to give one of the semibreves additional spacing (1 point). It doesn't look exactly right, but it's better than nothing, and certainly less confusing than having one of your parts apparently disappear because of 2 indistinguishable notes coinciding exactly.

Re: Two semibreves on the same line

Reply #5 –
...you have to enter the shorter duration first.
No, you don't.  Longer may be entered first.  Go on, give it a go.
...one of your parts apparently disappear because of 2 indistinguishable notes coinciding exactly.
Two whole notes appear side by side, looking somewhat like eyeglasses, or the infinity symbol.  One of them doesn't "disappear."  Go on, give it a go.

Re: Two semibreves on the same line

Reply #6 –
The shorter duration rule only IIRC applies to rests included in the chord, and I think it is really result of two rules, the rest must be entered first, and the rest must be shorter than the notes chorded with it.

Cyril Alberga