OpenMusic

Visual Programming | Computer-Assisted Composition

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Rhythmic Objects : Voice Editor

In OpenMusic Rhythm Trees are used mostly with the VOICE object. There are many ways to write RTs . The straight forward way is to simply edit the VOICE’s second slot <tree> using either the popup numbox or even better, a textfile. In this case, don’t forget to remove the “outer” parenthesis

An even more practical and efficient way is to use the RT editor. First choose either voice or measure selector in your VOICE editor, then select the whole voice or a particular measure then type ‘r’

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Selection Tools

The voice editor palettes shows a number of additional tools, which define hierarchic edition level.

Consecutive pitches are considered as chords . This must be taken into account for choosing the appropriate tool in the palette.

Entering Chords and Notes

Adding and Deleting Measures

Converting Silences into Notes

Once created, a measure displays a whole pause. You can either :

To convert a whole pause into a whole note and back, select the measure tool , select the measure and press esc .

To split a silence or a note into a group of equal values :

  1. select the chord tool ,

  2. select the item,

  3. enter a number.

Adding Notes to Chords

Select the note or the chord tool and Cmd click on a chord.

If you didn’t click right on the chord, the note is framed in red.

Use the <- and -> keys to reach the desired chord and press ENTER .

Manipulating

Chords

To tie successive chords, press = .

To untie them, press / .

Groups

To get a group :

  1. select a chord

  2. enter a number to split it into smaller equal values.

Individual chords cannot be grouped from the voice editor.

To break an existing group :

  1. select a group with the group tool

  2. press -

Durations

To merge successive chords into one longer chord :

  1. delete all existing ties,

  2. select several chords with the chord tool, and press + .

The duration of the resulting chord is equal to the sum of the merged chords.

Move Staff

To move a staff up or down :

  1. select it by clicking on the clef

  2. use the ↓ ↑ keys.

Staff, Voices and Measures

To apply modifications to a whole voice or measure, select the voice tool or the measure tool

Some modifications may not be relevant. Groups cannot be broken over a whole voice, for instance.

Transposing an entire voice.

Transposing an entire voice.

Note that if a voice consists of several staves, a selection with the voice tool applies to the whole group of staves.

Groups

The second mesure of the first voice shows three groups levels nested within each other.

The second mesure of the first voice shows three groups levels nested within each other.

Groups are represented by beams or by small vertical lines.

To break a group :

  1. select the group tool,

  2. select the group to break,

  3. press -.

If several groups are nested into each other, they are broken from the main level to the secondary levels.

Groups and Rhythm Trees Syntax :

Reminder : Groups and Rhythm Trees

Groups are written as sub lists.

Here, the first sequence has one eighth notes group, the second sequence has no group.

Modifying Groups From the Rhythm Tree Input

Groups can be edited directly from the editor tree editor:

  1. Choose the measure tool and select the group’s measure

  2. Press ‘r’

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  1. Modify your rhythm (in this example we will transform the triplet into a quintuplet)

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  1. Press the ‘set’ button in the tree editor

Now the triplets were transformed into quintuplets:

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