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2.8.2.6 Ancient time signatures

There is limited support for mensuration signs (which are similar to, but not exactly the same as time signatures). The glyphs are hard-wired to particular time fractions. In other words, to get a particular mensuration sign with the \time n/m command, n and m have to be chosen according to the following table

[image of music]

Use the style property of grob TimeSignature to select ancient time signatures. Supported styles are neomensural and mensural. The above table uses the neomensural style. This style is appropriate for the incipit of transcriptions of mensural pieces. The mensural style mimics the look of historical printings of the 16th century.

The following examples show the differences in style,

[image of music]

See also

Notation Reference: Time signature, gives a general introduction to the use of time signatures.

Known issues and warnings

Ratios of note durations do not change with the time signature. For example, the ratio of 1 breve = 3 semibreves (tempus perfectum) must be made by hand, by setting

breveTP = #(ly:make-duration -1 0 3 2)
...
{ c\breveTP f1 }

This sets breveTP to 3/2 times 2 = 3 times a whole note.

The old6/8alt symbol (an alternate symbol for 6/8) is not addressable with \time. Use a \markup instead

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