Meter, key, tempo, and clef
Opening settings and later changes
Set meter, key, and tempo in the score header. A setting stays in force until another replaces it. For several changes, a compact map puts the timeline together. The first unaddressed entry is the opening value; later entries begin with their measure number.
scorescript 0.3
score "Changing meter" {
meter {4/4, 2:3/4, 3:4/4}
key {C, 3:G}
tempo {Andante 80, 3:Allegro 120}
parts { flute }
flute { m1-3 { 4C5 D E F | 4G A B | 1C } }
}
Canonical spelling
scorescript 0.3
score "Changing meter" {
meter {4/4, 2:3/4, 3:4/4}
key {C, 3:G}
tempo {Andante 80, 3:Allegro 120}
parts {
flute
}
flute {
m1-3 {
4C5 D E F | G A B | 1C
}
}
}
An addressed block such as at m2 { meter 3/4 } states the same kind of change. Inside a part, [meter 3/4], [key G], and [tempo 120] place changes at a musical point. Score-wide changes should be stated once in the score timeline, rather than repeated in every player's music.
meter none allows unmetered music. Compound meters such as 6/8 have their own standard beam grouping. A key signature and the pitch-reading mode are different settings; see key-aware spelling.
Tempo words and beat units
A tempo entry can contain a word, a metronome value, or both. Use quotes for several words. An explicit metronome beat retains its printed unit: tempo 4.=88 gives dotted-quarter equals 88. tempo 8=164 gives eighth equals 164. Two note values instead of a metronome number express metric modulation, such as tempo 4=8 or tempo 4=e.~s.
scorescript 0.3
score "Compound pulse" {
meter 6/8
tempo 4.=88
parts { flute }
flute { m1 { 8C5 D E F G A } }
}
Canonical spelling
scorescript 0.3
score "Compound pulse" {
meter 6/8
tempo 4.=88
parts {
flute
}
flute {
m1 {
8C5 D E F G A
}
}
}
*Andante and *"Molto Andante" place tempo text above the music. A physical line containing only tempo words is a preamble for the following musical row; it does not create a silent measure.
*"Andante"
4C5 D E F
Canonical spelling
*Andante 4C5 D E F
In a tempo map, prefix a direction with the comma down-mark to request player-facing text below the staff, as in tempo {80, 2:,"molto rit."}. Above-system directions remain visible to resting players; below directions are omitted in a resting part.
Clefs and instruments
Catalog instruments provide their normal clef. Use clef bass, clef alto, or another supported clef where necessary, and [clef bass] for an inline change. Numeric clefs 1 through 7 mean treble, soprano, mezzo-soprano, alto, tenor, baritone, and bass respectively. An instrument change is written [instrument piccolo]; inspect the resulting range and written part when doubling instruments.
Beams
Standard grouping follows the meter. An override such as [beams 3+3+2/8] counts in eighths and fits a whole 4/4 measure. Without /8, the numbers count in the current meter's denominator unit.
[beams 3+3+2/8] 8C5 D E F G A B C
Canonical spelling
[beams 3+3+2/8] 8C5 D E F G A B C
[beams none] separates the notes; [beams beat] groups by beat; [beams standard] restores the standard grouping. A custom grouping is remembered for its meter when that meter returns. standard clears that meter's remembered override.
Rehearsal marks
Default and recommended: boxed actual measure numbers, including inside the measures themselves. Choose the placement that suits your source:
| Placement | Source | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Inside a continuous measure block | ... F | [[5]] G ... | A boxed 5 on the measure containing G |
| Inside an addressed measure | m5: [[5]] 1G | A boxed 5 on measure 5 |
| In a score-level map | RH {5, 9, 13} | Boxed 5, 9, and 13 at those measures across the score |
Inside continuous measures
Place the box after the barline and before that measure's first note. It takes no musical time and does not reset the inherited duration or octave.
scorescript 0.3
score "Measure-number landmarks" {
meter 4/4
piano {
m1-16 {
1C5 | D | E | F |
[[5]] G | F | E | D |
[[9]] C | D | E | F |
[[13]] G | F | D | C
}
}
}
Canonical spelling
scorescript 0.3
score "Measure-number landmarks" {
meter 4/4
part piano
piano {
m1-8 {
1C5 | D | E | F | [[5]] G | F | E | D
}
m9-16 {
[[9]] 1C | D | E | F | [[13]] G | F | D | C
}
}
}
Inside separately addressed measures
The same music and boxes can be written with explicit measure rows:
scorescript 0.3
score "Measure-number landmarks" {
meter 4/4
piano {
m1-4 { 1C5 | D | E | F }
m5: [[5]] 1G
m6-8 { 1F | E | D }
m9: [[9]] 1C
m10-12 { 1D | E | F }
m13: [[13]] 1G
m14-16 { 1F | D | C }
}
}
Canonical spelling
scorescript 0.3
score "Measure-number landmarks" {
meter 4/4
part piano
piano {
m1-8 {
1C5 | D | E | F | [[5]] G | F | E | D
}
m9-16 {
[[9]] 1C | D | E | F | [[13]] G | F | D | C
}
}
}
In a map
These same landmarks can instead live in RH {5, 9, 13}. Each map entry is both the address and displayed number; no repeated label or extra brackets are needed. Include 1 only when an opening box is wanted: RH {1, 5, 9, 13}. The equivalent inline opening is m1: [[1]] 1C5.
scorescript 0.3
score "Measure-number landmarks" {
meter 4/4
RH {5, 9, 13}
piano {
m1-16 {
1C5 | D | E | F |
G | F | E | D |
C | D | E | F |
G | F | D | C
}
}
}
Canonical spelling
scorescript 0.3
score "Measure-number landmarks" {
meter 4/4
RH {5, 9, 13}
part piano
piano {
m1-8 {
1C5 | D | E | F | G | F | E | D
}
m9-16 {
1C | D | E | F | G | F | D | C
}
}
}
An inline [[5]] is a label on its containing measure, not a jump to measure 5 or an automatic current-measure placeholder. Keep that explicit number aligned with its measure when inserting or renumbering bars. The map is score-wide; an inline mark inside one part belongs to that part. The three examples above are equivalent because they contain one part.
A custom boxed letter such as [[A]] or RH A, and a circled (A), are optional alternatives—not the recommended default. In a map, RH {5:[[A]], 9:(B)} explicitly chooses those alternate labels/shapes. Single [A] is a sounding pitch, not a box.
The default is manual placement: only requested marks are printed. rehearsal auto is an optional, separate scheme that derives sequential letter marks at structural seams; it is not needed for the recommended numbered map. Written marks take precedence. Check the rendered rehearsal sequence before extracting parts.