Merging staves in sellected systems only
 

I need to consolidate my printed score (less paper/pages) while minimizing codas and the alike for easy readability. To this end it would be helpful if I could merge staves for some specific systems where but leave parts separate where the structure is more polyphonic. For example: in systems where base and tenors are monophonic harmonies I could merge those staves but where they sing different lyrics or the sung syllables occur at different beats from each other, naturally, I would keep those staves separate. Using the "Merge Staves" command, I merge the selected parts for the whole score or nothing. I've tried selecting a region and using the "merge staves" but that doesn't work.

Bill

Re: Merging staves in sellected systems only
 

Hi, Briansdad:

I think the best way to do that is through creating a separate staff and manually merging only those sections where you want the voices together. This would involve actually moving the notes in a region out of the original staves and joining them in the new staff.

Then, with by choosing "Hide Empty Staves" and careful positioning of your page layout, you can effectively achieve displaying your "merged" staff in conjunction with your separate staves.

Good luck.

David

Re: Merging staves in sellected systems only
 

I started to do as you suggested and, though your procedure is sound (thank you), it didn't improve the score IMHO as it was a bit confusing to follow for novice coral members - might have been harder for them to know where their part jumped to. Not one of my better ideas. So I left it as a consistent 4 parts, four stave systems. The procedure will have application in the future, though, I am sure.

I also removed the "step" and "clap" voicing, leaving just a first line "visual" instruction. My midi skills weren't up to finding decent sounding "step" and "clap" rhythms. And, if I had found good ones, I have no idea how to make them portable so that that is what would be heard buy other users. It's not primarily about the midi anyway (printing is the main goal) so this isn't a request to delve into a solution to this at this time.

I have just one other minor issue that has to do with proper style more than software - in a separate post. The almost complete arrangement, "Yonder Come Day" will be attached there, "How to write ending indicators" in General music tips and questions
Thanks for all your help!

Bill