Skip to main content
Topic: How can I notate a gliss for a harp? (Read 2831 times) previous topic - next topic

How can I notate a gliss for a harp?

How can I notate a gliss?  Especially between two staffs?  I'm trying to do something like this for harp:

https://www.scoringnotes.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/harp-ex-1.jpg

(The image shows what I mean!)

Also, is there a way to connect notes in a staff?  For instance, the right and left hand each have notes that are part of one chord?  Thanks in advance!  :D

Re: How can I notate a gliss for a harp?

Reply #1
This can be done using the Glissando.ms object. Although NWC doesn't have support for cross-staff notes, you can apply an offset to the right end point so that it will "connect" to a note on another staff. See the attached example score.

The first measure is a visual-only version, which uses regular notes on each staff.  The second measure will actually play, because there is a hidden note in the lower staff that has the same chromatic position as the note in the upper staff.  I used "black keys" playback, but it doesn't sound quite right because of the starting/ending notes. 

Let me know if you have any questions about the Glissando.ms object.

Re: How can I notate a gliss for a harp?

Reply #2
Also, is there a way to connect notes in a staff?  For instance, the right and left hand each have notes that are part of one chord?  Thanks in advance!  :D
I forgot to address your second question.  If you have chords for the right and left hand that you want to show as a single cross staff chord, the easiest way to do this would be to lengthen the stems of the appropriate chord in the upper or lower staff (which one you lengthen depends on the stem directions).  If the note durations are half or quarter, you only need to extend the stems until they reach the closest notehead. If the notes are shorter duration, then you will want to extend them until the flags are aligned with the ones on the other staff.  Effective with version 2.75 of NWC, you can easily adjust the stem length by highlighting a note/chord and pressing Alt+up arrow or down arrow.

Re: How can I notate a gliss for a harp?

Reply #3
The graphism for the glissando has already been explained by Mike, but the acoustic result is very unsatisfactory.
In the vast majority of the cases you can have a better result by choosing "white keys".

If the pedal configuration is odd, then probably the only way to have a good result is to use a hidden staff with an arpeggio plugin, like here:
Code: (nwc) [Select · Download]
!NoteWorthyComposer(2.751)
|Editor|ActiveStaff:2|CaretIndex:1|CaretPos:-1
|SongInfo|Title:"Toccata"|Author:"Susann McDonald (1935)"|Lyricist:"(approssimazione per celtica)"|Copyright1:""|Copyright2:""
|PgSetup|StaffSize:16|Zoom:4|TitlePage:Y|JustifyVertically:Y|PrintSystemSepMark:N|ExtendLastSystem:N|DurationPadding:Y|PageNumbers:0|StaffLabels:None|BarNumbers:Plain|StartingBar:1
|Font|Style:StaffItalic|Typeface:"Times New Roman"|Size:10|Bold:Y|Italic:Y|CharSet:0
|Font|Style:StaffBold|Typeface:"Times New Roman"|Size:8|Bold:Y|Italic:N|CharSet:0
|Font|Style:StaffLyric|Typeface:"Times New Roman"|Size:7|Bold:N|Italic:N|CharSet:0
|Font|Style:PageTitleText|Typeface:"Times New Roman"|Size:24|Bold:Y|Italic:N|CharSet:0
|Font|Style:PageText|Typeface:"Times New Roman"|Size:12|Bold:N|Italic:N|CharSet:0
|Font|Style:PageSmallText|Typeface:"Times New Roman"|Size:8|Bold:N|Italic:N|CharSet:0
|Font|Style:User1|Typeface:"MusikDingsSans"|Size:16|Bold:N|Italic:N|CharSet:0
|Font|Style:User2|Typeface:"MusikTextEuroSans"|Size:10|Bold:N|Italic:N|CharSet:0
|Font|Style:User3|Typeface:"MusikTextEuroSans"|Size:8|Bold:N|Italic:N|CharSet:0
|Font|Style:User4|Typeface:"Times New Roman"|Size:8|Bold:N|Italic:N|CharSet:0
|Font|Style:User5|Typeface:"Times New Roman"|Size:8|Bold:N|Italic:N|CharSet:0
|Font|Style:User6|Typeface:"Times New Roman"|Size:8|Bold:N|Italic:N|CharSet:0
|PgMargins|Left:1.27|Top:1.27|Right:1.27|Bottom:2.00|Mirror:N
|AddStaff|Name:"Extra 1"|Group:"Standard"
|StaffProperties|EndingBar:Open (hidden)|Visible:Y|BoundaryTop:15|BoundaryBottom:10|Lines:5|WithNextStaff:Brace,ConnectBars,Layer|Color:Default
|StaffProperties|Muted:N|Volume:127|StereoPan:64|Device:0|Channel:3
|StaffInstrument|Name:"Harp"|Patch:46|Trans:0|DynVel:10,30,45,60,75,92,108,127
|Clef|Type:Treble
|Key|Signature:Bb,Eb|Tonic:B
|TimeSig|Signature:2/4
|Dynamic|Style:mp|Pos:-9|Visibility:Never
|Rest|Dur:8th|Visibility:Never
|User|Arpeggio.ms|Pos:-3|Rate:128|ForceArrow:Y|Visibility:Never
|Chord|Dur:8th|Pos:-9,-8,-7,-5,-4,-2,-1,0,2,3,5,6,7,9,10,12|Opts:Stem=Up,Muted|Visibility:Never
|User|Arpeggio.ms|Pos:-3|Rate:128|Dir:down|Visibility:Never
|Chord|Dur:8th|Pos:-9,-8,-7,-5,-4,-2,-1,0,2,3,5,6,7,9,10,12|Opts:Stem=Up,Muted|Visibility:Never
|User|Arpeggio.ms|Pos:-3|Rate:128|ForceArrow:Y|Visibility:Never
|Chord|Dur:8th|Pos:-9,-8,-7,-5,-4,-2,-1,0,2,3,5,6,7,9,10,12|Opts:Stem=Up,Muted|Visibility:Never
|Bar
|Rest|Dur:8th|Visibility:Never
|User|Arpeggio.ms|Pos:-3|Rate:128|ForceArrow:Y|Visibility:Never
|Chord|Dur:8th|Pos:-9,-8,-7,-5,-4,-2,-1,0,2,3,5,6,7,9,10,12|Opts:Stem=Up,Muted|Visibility:Never
|User|Arpeggio.ms|Pos:-3|Rate:128|Dir:down|Visibility:Never
|Chord|Dur:8th|Pos:-9,-8,-7,-5,-4,-2,-1,0,2,3,5,6,7,9,10,12|Opts:Stem=Up,Muted|Visibility:Never
|User|Arpeggio.ms|Pos:-3|Rate:128|ForceArrow:Y|Visibility:Never
|Chord|Dur:8th|Pos:-9,-8,-7,-5,-4,-2,-1,0,2,3,5,6,7,9,10,12|Opts:Stem=Up,Muted|Visibility:Never
|Bar
|Rest|Dur:8th|Visibility:Never
|User|Arpeggio.ms|Pos:-3|Rate:128|ForceArrow:Y|Visibility:Never
|Chord|Dur:8th|Pos:-9,-8,-7,-5,-4,-2,-1,0,2,3,5,6,7,9,10,12|Opts:Stem=Up,Muted|Visibility:Never
|User|Arpeggio.ms|Pos:-3|Rate:128|Dir:down|Visibility:Never
|Chord|Dur:8th|Pos:-9,-8,-7,-5,-4,-2,-1,0,2,3,5,6,7,9,10,12|Opts:Stem=Up,Muted|Visibility:Never
|User|Arpeggio.ms|Pos:-3|Rate:128|ForceArrow:Y|Visibility:Never
|Chord|Dur:8th|Pos:-9,-8,-7,-5,-4,-2,-1,0,2,3,5,6,7,9,10,12|Opts:Stem=Up,Muted|Visibility:Never
|Bar
|Rest|Dur:8th|Visibility:Never
|User|Arpeggio.ms|Pos:-3|Rate:128|ForceArrow:Y|Visibility:Never
|Chord|Dur:8th|Pos:-9,-8,-7,-5,-4,-2,-1,0,2,3,5,6,7,9,10,12|Opts:Stem=Up,Muted|Visibility:Never
|User|Arpeggio.ms|Pos:-3|Rate:128|Dir:down|Visibility:Never
|Chord|Dur:8th|Pos:-9,-8,-7,-5,-4,-2,-1,0,2,3,5,6,7,9,10,12|Opts:Stem=Up,Muted|Visibility:Never
|User|Arpeggio.ms|Pos:-3|Rate:128|ForceArrow:Y|Visibility:Never
|Chord|Dur:8th|Pos:-9,-8,-7,-5,-4,-2,-1,0,2,3,5,6,7,9,10,12|Opts:Stem=Up,Muted|Visibility:Never
|Bar|SysBreak:Y
|AddStaff|Name:"Right hand"|Label:"Harp"|Group:"Standard"
|StaffProperties|EndingBar:Open (hidden)|Visible:Y|BoundaryTop:15|BoundaryBottom:10|Lines:5|WithNextStaff:Brace,ConnectBars|Color:Default
|StaffProperties|Muted:N|Volume:127|StereoPan:64|Device:0|Channel:1
|StaffInstrument|Name:"Harp"|Patch:46|Trans:0|DynVel:10,30,45,60,75,92,108,127
|Clef|Type:Treble
|Key|Signature:Bb,Eb|Tonic:B
|Tempo|Tempo:78|Pos:9.5
|TimeSig|Signature:2/4
|Dynamic|Style:f|Pos:-10
|Rest|Dur:8th
|Spacer|Width:175
|Note|Dur:8th|Pos:-9|Opts:StemLength=0,Muted
|Spacer|Width:300
|User|Glissando.ms|Pos:-10|Text:
|Text|Text:"(  )"|Font:PageText|Pos:11.5|Justify:Center|Placement:AtNextNote
|Note|Dur:8th|Pos:12|Opts:StemLength=0,Muted
|Spacer|Width:300
|User|Glissando.ms|Pos:-10|Text:
|Note|Dur:8th|Pos:-9|Opts:StemLength=0,Muted
|Spacer|Width:300
|User|Glissando.ms|Pos:-10|Text:
|Note|Dur:8th,Grace|Pos:12|Opts:StemLength=0,Muted|Visibility:Never
|Bar
|Rest|Dur:8th
|Note|Dur:8th|Pos:-9|Opts:StemLength=0,Muted
|Spacer|Width:300
|User|Glissando.ms|Pos:-10|Text:
|Text|Text:"(  )"|Font:PageText|Pos:11.5|Justify:Center|Placement:AtNextNote
|Note|Dur:8th|Pos:12|Opts:StemLength=0,Muted
|Spacer|Width:300
|User|Glissando.ms|Pos:-10|Text:
|Note|Dur:8th|Pos:-9|Opts:StemLength=0,Muted
|Spacer|Width:300
|User|Glissando.ms|Pos:-10|Text:
|Note|Dur:8th,Grace|Pos:12|Opts:StemLength=0,Muted|Visibility:Never
|Bar
|Rest|Dur:8th
|Note|Dur:8th|Pos:-9|Opts:StemLength=0,Muted
|Spacer|Width:300
|User|Glissando.ms|Pos:-10|Text:
|Text|Text:"(  )"|Font:PageText|Pos:11.5|Justify:Center|Placement:AtNextNote
|Note|Dur:8th|Pos:12|Opts:StemLength=0,Muted
|Spacer|Width:300
|User|Glissando.ms|Pos:-10|Text:
|Note|Dur:8th|Pos:-9|Opts:StemLength=0,Muted
|Spacer|Width:300
|User|Glissando.ms|Pos:-10|Text:
|Note|Dur:8th,Grace|Pos:12|Opts:StemLength=0,Muted|Visibility:Never
|Bar
|Rest|Dur:8th
|Note|Dur:8th|Pos:-9|Opts:StemLength=0,Muted
|Spacer|Width:300
|User|Glissando.ms|Pos:-10|Text:
|Text|Text:"(  )"|Font:PageText|Pos:11.5|Justify:Center|Placement:AtNextNote
|Note|Dur:8th|Pos:12|Opts:StemLength=0,Muted
|Spacer|Width:300
|User|Glissando.ms|Pos:-10|Text:
|Note|Dur:8th|Pos:-9|Opts:StemLength=0,Muted
|Spacer|Width:300
|User|Glissando.ms|Pos:-10|Text:
|Note|Dur:8th,Grace|Pos:12|Opts:StemLength=0,Muted|Visibility:Never
|Bar
|AddStaff|Name:"Extra 2"|Group:"Standard"
|StaffProperties|EndingBar:Open (hidden)|Visible:Y|BoundaryTop:10|BoundaryBottom:13|Lines:5|WithNextStaff:Layer|Color:Default
|StaffProperties|Muted:N|Volume:127|StereoPan:64|Device:0|Channel:4
|StaffInstrument|Name:"Harp"|Patch:46|Trans:0|DynVel:10,30,45,60,75,92,108,127
|Clef|Type:Bass
|Key|Signature:Bb,Eb|Tonic:B
|TimeSig|Signature:2/4
|Dynamic|Style:f|Pos:-9|Visibility:Never
|Rest|Dur:Half|Visibility:Never
|Bar
|Rest|Dur:Half|Visibility:Never
|Bar
|Rest|Dur:Half|Visibility:Never
|Bar
|Rest|Dur:Half|Visibility:Never
|Bar
|AddStaff|Name:"Left hand"|Group:"Standard"
|StaffProperties|EndingBar:Open (hidden)|Visible:Y|BoundaryTop:10|BoundaryBottom:13|Lines:5|WithNextStaff:Brace,ConnectBars|Color:Default
|StaffProperties|Muted:N|Volume:127|StereoPan:64|Device:0|Channel:2
|StaffInstrument|Name:"Harp"|Patch:46|Trans:0|DynVel:10,30,45,60,75,92,108,127
|Clef|Type:Bass
|Key|Signature:Bb,Eb|Tonic:B
|TimeSig|Signature:2/4
|Dynamic|Style:f|Pos:-15|Visibility:Never
|Chord|Dur:4th|Pos:-11,-4|Opts:Stem=Up
|Rest|Dur:4th
|Bar
|Chord|Dur:4th|Pos:-7,0|Opts:Stem=Up
|Rest|Dur:4th
|Bar
|Chord|Dur:4th|Pos:-6,1|Opts:Stem=Up
|Rest|Dur:4th
|Bar
|Chord|Dur:4th|Pos:-7,0|Opts:Stem=Up
|Rest|Dur:4th
|Bar
!NoteWorthyComposer-End

Then there is this problem, too:

Regarding the cross-staff beams, you can look at this plugin

Re: How can I notate a gliss for a harp?

Reply #4
Thank you both SO much!!  This was incredibly helpful!  I love this forum!