The PSALM Liturgical Music Resource
Fine-tuning (tweaking) the final results
- Once final layout and spacing is complete, "Lines of Extension" should be applied using the Word Extension plug-in supplied in later versions of Finale, or a third-party plug-in available from TG Tools. Note that the plug-in only applies word extensions based on the top voice. Sometimes, melodic movement in the lower voices requires drawing lines of extensions MANUALLY, using "Edit Word Extensions" under the Lyrics menu.
- Using Smart Shapes tool to click in or draw slurs
- Do not use "Engraver slurs" (This option should be unchecked "off" in the Smart Slur Options under the Smart Shape menu.) These slurs tend to be too "curvy" for most vocal/choral music.
- If there is one voice on a staff, slurs should be on notehead side
- If two voices on a staff (in two layers), slurs are drawn on stem side
- Slurs must not collide with stems, beams, lyrics, or each other (which means that Toolbox Tool must be used to adjust length of stems, and shape of slurs must be adjusted appropriately)
- Slurs on the same staff above and below should have as symmetric and consistent an appearance as possible.
- Note that Finale draws slurs based on the length of stems, which means that sometimes the slurs do not slant in the same direction as the melodic motion of the voices. This is very confusing visually and must be adjusted manually.
- Using Page Layout Tool, adjust margins of partial lines so that resulting note spacing is consistent with preceding line of music. This is a "trial-and error" procedure. Remember to update layout each time.
- Dynamics should be entered above the top staff and below the bottom staff, bringing them out of visual interference with the lyrics.
- Initial tempo markings, if present, should line up flush-left either with the time signature, if one is present, or with the FIRST musical element (note or dynamic marking) in the system.
- Subsequent tempo markings (e.g., rit., accel., a tempo) appear only above the staff, while verbal dynamic markings (cresc., dim., etc.) appear both above and below the staff.
- Section headings (e.g. Sticheron 1, Sticheron 2, Verse, a number in a box enclosure, etc.) should appear flush left with the left edge of the system. If a tempo marking is also present, the section heading should be sufficiently above so as not to interfere visually with the tempo marking.
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