IWBNI there were a utility that could automatically allocate an appropriate amount of space for each staff in a selected range of systems. And, IWBNI this utility could automatically allocate an appropriate amount of space between each system in a selected range of systems. This utility would be the vertical equivalent of MassEdit>Music Spacing>Apply Note Spacing. The utility would make allowances for extreme high and low notes as well as attached objects such as expressions, articulations, smart shapes, text blocks and chords.

Here are observations of some scores that might be of some use when designing such a utility:

Space Between Systems

Within a piece, the space between systems is often constant (or varied rarely and only slightly if it is changed) and it is roughly equal to somewhere between a bit less than 6 times to almost 7 times the height of a staff. For example, for a 6mm staff the space between systems might be in the range 39mm to 42mm. For a 5mm staff, the space between systems might be 30mm.

Space Between Staves of a System

Within a piece, the space between staves of a system varies often and greatly to accommodate material (e.g. high/low notes or expressions/markings). A normal/unadjusted spacing that is often used is somewhat larger than 3 times the height of a staff. For example, in a system with 5mm staves, the staves might normally be spaced at 15mm. But this space could fluctuate between 12mm and 19mm. For 6mm staves, the normal space between staves might be 20mm but it might range from 15mm to 25mm.

Page 1

Page 1 is a special case. Staves and systems must be tightened to allow space for the heading and footing text. The normal space is reduced between staves and between systems. Also, the space between systems is allowed to vary much more than it would in the rest of the piece. One might see the space between staves reduced to 1.8 times to 2.8 times the staff height. The space between systems might be reduced to 3.6 to 4.2 times the staff height.

Created: June 16, 1999 (based on a submission from Michael Cook)
Last Updated: November 29, 1999
Version: Finale 2000b