Re: \times question

[David Kastrup]

Menu Jacques <address@hidden> writes:

> Hello folks,
>
> The two tuplets below are visually different, but what’s the musical
> difference, and how should a performer play that?
>
> \version "2.19.55"
>
> \relative c' {
>   \times 2/4  {
>     e4 f4 g4 a4
>   }
>   \times 1/4  {
>     b4 c4 c4 b4
>   }
> }
>

> The two tuplets [above] are visually different, but what’s the musical
> difference, and how should a performer play that?

That's just bad notation.  Either, by the way.  Factors of 2/4 and 1/4
do not make sense with \times.  They might with \scaleDurations (which
does not attach tuplet numbers) in polyrhythmical situations, but not
with a change in mid-sequence.

If you are a super-smart new-fangled composer and really really mean it,
you might want to consider explicit "2:4" and "1:4" tuplet numbers:
there is a special tuplet number formatter override for that (too lazy
to look it up right now).  Which is also helpful for distinguishing 7:4
and 7:8 (heptuplets of either persuasion can be found in scores).

In that manner, the notation becomes unambiguous again.  It doesn't
become a good idea by that, but at least one can see what is desired
from the executioner.

-- 
David Kastrup