Mensural 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

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. The following examples show the differences in style:

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 mensural68alt and neomensural68alt symbols (alternate symbols for 6/8) are not addressable with \time. Use \markup {\musicglyph #"timesig.mensural68alt" } instead.

Autres langues : español.