Clusters
There are two main ways to imply a cluster, and are distinguished by the length... A short cluster (quarter, half, whole note maybe) can be shown as thus:
Example 2.1
Or a long cluster which takes a long ammount of time, shown either in bars, or seconds, which can be shown as this:
Example 2.2
So let's go to the meanings of the two examples.
Example 2.1: The said instrument (most probably a piano) will play
all pitches from D to B and hold them for the duration of a half note. Note the following things:
- The stem is there, to distinguish between a whole note and a half note.
- the natural and sharp signs, above the note, indicates that both black and white keys are to be played. If only a natural was there, it would be a sign to play only the white keys, and simmilarly if only the sharp was there, it would be a notion to play the black key only (although in this case, it's easier to notate them ordinarily).
- The thick line in the middle, is what indicates that this, actually, is a cluster! Without it, the said chord is just a DB chord and nothing else.
Example 2.2: Here we have a string orchestra, where the higher strings (Violins and violas), play together and are notated at the same staff, while the bass strings are seperated. The image is kinda distorted and small, and it doesn't really show, but the thick line on the first main staff grows thicker, while more instruments enter. This is a technique, first used by Penderevsky in his work "Threnody for the victims of Hiroshima".
If you notice the first staff to be found (the smaller one), it is there that the conductor (as this is the conductors score, you will never see something like this in a part really), sees which pitches enter. This is why it's not a full staff and is empty in between. simmilaraly you may notice that the first and second strings to change their pitch are not playing normal semitones, but quarter tones. Thus the need for a graphic notation is greater than ever!
How to do it in Finale:
Example 2.1:
Write the chord normally as a half note. Then go to
special tools -> custom stem tool and then click on the bar of interest. Double click on the handle that will appear on the chord to enter the
shape selection. Then click on
create new. Drow a vertical line, with .1 width and click ok. Don't worry about not being exactly on the middle (the small circle there). Click select, to select the newly made shape. Then with the mouse move the new stem as needed to start from the top note and upwards a little.
That settled go to the
shape tool -> shapes -> create new. Choose any shape and on the shape designer, choose it and delete it. Then go to the line tool and choose a thick line (.2, or .5, although I usually toy around .35 or something), and draw a vertical line of that thickness. Attach it to the cluster and then move it accordingly to have it in the middle. If needed, double clicking, will enable you to change the length of that thick line, and thus put it in perfect shape with the cluster.
Example 2.2:
The first staff, does not appear anywhere in the score apart from that page (and the next, for those who know where this is coming from).
The staves can be shortened (make them smaller) with the resize tool (%). Just click next to the staff and put it to 70-60% or something to fit your needs.
The empty spaces are just rectangulars from the shape tool, which are filled white, and their edges (lines) have 0 thickness. Note that if there are rests, usually they will bypass the "bedsheet", so the best thing to do is have a rest and hide it (o on the speedy entry).
Same to the staff named Vln. I/Vln. II/Vla. Delete all the rests, so as not to be shown and make a lengthy thick line. Attach it to the
staff (as if you attach it on a note, or rest that does not show, will cause the shape to dissapear as well), and double click on it to adjust the length to perfection. Then add a second on, and a third one, etc, to create a thicker line towards the end.