Brief use of independent time signature

[David Ward]

I previously had Cl.1 play a tuplet of 9:6 in 6/8, but have edited it so that this clarinet now stays in 3/4 for three bars while everyone else who is playing continues to alternate between 6/8 and 3/4. Tempo = 69. Which solution seems best to people on this forum?

It is made more complicated (perhaps) by the way that a few bars before the clarinets and horns are effectively playing 6/8 in a 3/4 bar (and elsewhere before that). This is the only overt example of an independent time signature in the 300 page score. However, I didn't really like the nonet-tuplet beamed all together that I had before.

If the conductor beats one in the bar…

[David Ward]

This was my original tuplet. Which do people prefer: this nonet-tuplet (nonetlet? nonlet?), or the independent time signature with three triplets?

And on further reflection this morning, I think maybe I'm likely to go back to the 9:6 tuplet I originally had, unless anyone here comes up with a compelling reason why I should not do so.

Or perhaps it would be OK to have the three triplets without doing anything about the time signature. I suspect that's what I might have done in my manuscript only days. Perhaps I should check my 2012 pencil sketches for this, if I can find/still have them.

[Fred G. Unn]

As a player, I think I'd rather see the 3 triplets instead of a 9:6 tuplet regardless of the time sig. 3/4 against 6/8 is very common, and the subdivision is so simple given the 3 quarters in the previous bar that I'd easily sightread the top example perfectly. The 9:6 I'd stop and mentally figure out what that was, and possibly even pencil in "3 ... 3 ... 3."

[Anders Hedelin]

Probably this section would be conducted according to the regular alternation of 6/8 and 3/4, so an independent TS just for Cl. 1 may be confusing to the player. Together with Fred G. Unn's suggestion the TS 's should be quite clear as they are.

[David Ward]

Thank you both: I've now made it as in the screenshot, which appears to be what I had in my pencil sketches from the start. For one reason or another, when I use Finale I sometimes have a habit of changing things which might have been best left as they were.

[Anders Hedelin]

For one reason or another, when I use Finale I sometimes have a habit of changing things which might have been best left as they were.

You are not the only one. Whether the problem is with Finale or somewhere else, I'm not sure.

[MichelRE]

I can't help it:
Anita:
"I like to live in Britannica,
OK by me in Britannica,
Everything free in Britannica"

Bernardo:
"for a small fee in Britannica!"

[David Ward]

I can't help it… …

Ha!