User manual

Table Of Contents
System objects on page 684
Changing the positions of system objects on page 685
Types of tempo marks
Dorico Elements groups tempo marks into four types according to their function and effect on
the music.
The following tempo changes are available in the Tempo panel in Write mode, but you can also
input all types of tempo changes using the tempo popover.
Absolute Tempo Change
Indicates a dened change in tempo, and is often shown with a metronome mark.
Gradual Tempo Change
Indicates a change in tempo over a dened period of time, such as rallentando
(slowing down) or accelerando (speeding up).
Relative Tempo Change
Indicates a change in tempo that is relative to the previous tempo, such as mosso
(movement).
Relative tempo changes often include modiers that qualify the change, such as poco
meno mosso (a little less movement), and are not dened by a metronome mark. You
can, however, set a relative metronome mark change as a percentage of the
previous metronome mark.
Reset Tempo
Returns the tempo to the previous tempo, such as A tempo, or a previously dened
tempo, such as Tempo primo (return to the rst tempo of the piece).
RELATED LINKS
Tempo panel on page 248
Gradual tempo changes on page 708
Input methods for tempo marks on page 245
Tempo popover on page 246
General placement conventions for tempo marks
Tempo marks usually apply to all players and therefore to all staves. They always appear above
the top staff in the score, but because they are system objects, they can also be shown at
multiple positions in the score.
Tempo marks are placed above notations such as slurs, ties, and octave lines, and are often
aligned with rehearsal marks to ensure clear readability.
Tempo marks should be aligned with either a time signature, or the notehead or rest at the
rhythmic position to which they apply. For example, if there is a notehead with an accidental at
the rhythmic position of a tempo mark, it is convention to align the tempo mark with the
accidental.
If a repeat mark occurs mid-system and is not treated as a barline, tempo marks are aligned with
the repeat mark.
When a tempo mark includes both text and a metronome mark, the text appears rst, followed
by the metronome mark. When horizontal space is tight, the metronome mark can be positioned
below the tempo mark text.
Tempo marks
Types of tempo marks
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