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Aligning to cadenzas

In an orchestral context, cadenzas present a special problem: when constructing a score that includes a measured cadenza or other solo passage, all other instruments should skip just as many notes as the length of the cadenza, otherwise they will start too soon or too late.

One solution to this problem is to use the functions mmrest-of-length and skip-of-length. These Scheme functions take a defined piece of music as an argument and generate a multi-measure rest or \skip exactly as long as the piece.

MyCadenza = \relative {
  c'4 d8 e f g g4
  f2 g4 g
}

\new GrandStaff <<
  \new Staff {
    \MyCadenza c'1
    \MyCadenza c'1
  }
  \new Staff {
    #(mmrest-of-length MyCadenza)
    c'1
    #(skip-of-length MyCadenza)
    c'1
  }
>>

Another solution is to use the \skip command.

MyCadenza = \fixed c' {
  \repeat volta 2 {
    d8 e f g g4 f4
  }
}

music = <<
  \new Staff {
    \MyCadenza
    c'1
  }
  \new Staff {
    \skip \MyCadenza
    c'1
  }
>>

\unfoldRepeats \music

See also

Music Glossary: cadenza.

Snippets: Rhythms.