\time 3/4 c2.
@end lilypond
-@cindex time signature, visibility of
+Mid-measure time signature changes are covered in @ref{Upbeats}.
+
+@cindex time signature visibility
Time signatures are printed at the beginning of a piece
and whenever the time signature changes. If a change takes place
@cindex measure, partial
@cindex measure, pickup
@cindex pickup measure
+@cindex time signature, mid-measure
@funindex measurePosition
@funindex \partial
@funindex partial
Partial or pick-up measures, such as an @emph{anacrusis} or an
-@emph{upbeat}, are entered using the @code{\partial} command,
+@emph{upbeat}, are entered using the @code{\partial} command:
@example
\partial @var{duration}
@end example
-@noindent
-where @code{@var{duration}} is the @emph{remaining} length of the
-partial measure @emph{before} the start of the next full measure.
-
-@lilypond[quote,verbatim,relative=1]
-\time 3/4
-\partial 8
-e8 | a4 c8 b c4 |
-@end lilypond
-
-The @var{duration} can be any value less than a full measure:
+When @code{\partial} is used at the beginning of a score,
+@code{@var{duration}} is the length of the music preceding the
+first bar.
@lilypond[quote,verbatim,relative=1]
\time 3/4
r4 e8 | a4 c8 b c4 |
@end lilypond
-@code{\partial @var{duration}} can also be written as:
-
-@example
-\set Timing.measurePosition -@var{duration}
-@end example
-
-So the first example above could be written:
+When @code{\partial} is used after the beginning of a score,
+@code{@var{duration}} is the @emph{remaining} length of the
+current measure. It does not create a new numbered bar.
@lilypond[quote,verbatim,relative=1]
-\time 3/4
-\set Timing.measurePosition = #(ly:make-moment -1/8)
-e8 | a4 c8 b c4 |
+\set Score.barNumberVisibility = #all-bar-numbers-visible
+\override Score.BarNumber.break-visibility =
+ #end-of-line-invisible
+\time 9/8
+d'4.~ 4 d8 d( c) b | c4.~ 4. \bar "||"
+\time 12/8
+\partial 4.
+c8( d) e | f2.~ 4 f8 a,( c) f |
@end lilypond
-The property @code{measurePosition} contains a rational number,
-which is usually positive and indicates how much of the measure
-has passed at this point. @code{\partial @var{duration}} is
-defined such that no numbered bar gets created: when used at the
-beginning of a score, @code{measurePosition} is set to a
-negative number, implying that the current bar will be
-@emph{preceded} by additional material. When used elsewhere, it
-moves the requested distance before the @emph{end} of the bar.
+The @code{\partial} command is @emph{required} when the time
+signature changes in mid measure, but it may also be used alone.
@lilypond[quote,verbatim,relative=1]
\set Score.barNumberVisibility = #all-bar-numbers-visible
c8 b[ c b] |
@end lilypond
+The @code{\partial} command sets the @code{Timing.measurePosition}
+property, which is a rational number that indicates how much of
+the measure has passed.
@seealso
Music Glossary:
@cindex double time signatures
@cindex signatures, polymetric
-@cindex time signatures, polymetric
-@cindex time signatures, double
+@cindex time signature, polymetric
+@cindex time signature, double
@cindex polymetric signatures
@cindex meter, polymetric
\time 3/4 c2 e4 | g2 |
@end example
-Bar checks can also be used in lyrics:
-
-@example
-\lyricmode @{
- \time 2/4
- Twin -- kle | Twin -- kle |
-@}
-@end example
-
An incorrect duration can result in a completely garbled score,
especially if the score is polyphonic, so a good place to start
correcting input is by scanning for failed bar checks and
only the first warning message is displayed. This allows the
warning to focus on the source of the timing error.
+Bar checks can also be inserted in lyrics:
+
+@example
+\lyricmode @{
+ \time 2/4
+ Twin -- kle | Twin -- kle |
+@}
+@end example
+
+Note that bar check marks in lyrics are evaluated at the musical
+moment when the syllable @emph{following} the check mark is processed.
+If the lyrics are associated with the notes of a voice which has a
+rest at the beginning of a bar, then no syllable can be located at the
+start of that bar and a warning will be issued if a bar check mark is
+placed in the lyrics at that position.
+
@funindex |
@funindex "|"