Re: Non-numeric time signatures

[Joram]

Am 26.10.2014 um 01:43 schrieb Dan Eble:
> On Oct 25, 2014, at 17:59 , Simon Albrecht <address@hidden> wrote:
> > I think the double c and double cut c symbols are very much non-standard, 
> > unlike single cut c for 4/2, which I consider to be in use very widely. With 
> > this difference in frequency of use I don’t find your suggestion convincing.
>
> My suggestion was not based on frequency of use (because I am ignorant of that) 
> but on my impression that it would be nicer to have a default that doesn’t use 
> the same symbol for different time signatures.
>
> > default: (currently called #'C – perhaps rename to #'symbolic? That would be 
> > more descriptive)
> > 4/4 -> c
> > 2/2 -> cut c
> > 4/2 -> (single) cut c
>
> “Symbolic” is too generic.  It could be applied to more than one style, 
> otherwise we wouldn’t be having this discussion. :)
>
> > How might an additional option for double c/cut c time signatures be called? 
> > Perhaps #'romantic or #'double or #’varsymbol?

I like your proposition, Simon. I think there should be 'default 
'numeric and another (at least one) - perhaps called 'symbolic. Lilypond 
already has several styles for note heads (default, altdefault, etc.) 
which only change the style of breve and longa notes. So I think it is 
not exaggerated to have several possibilities here.
For the 'default, I would prefer the current 4/2 as numeric.

Simon, you gave already nice explanation why the ¢ is also used for 4/2 
and I think this knowledge should be used when defining appropriate 
styles according to traditional usage of those symbols.

So I am for your suggestion, Simon.

Another thing:

Independent of these styles, I wonder if it would be possible and 
desirable to extend the \time command to allow to specify both the 
symbol and the timing information:

\time symbol timing (or the other way round)

examples:
\time 4/4 would by default mean \time "C" 4/4
\time 3/4 means \time "3/4" 3/4
\time "C|" 4/2 would mean the symbol is ¢ and the timing 4/2

I don't know it that works with the optional arguments. But it is 
similar to the \tempo command with
\tempo Allegro 4=100
That would be easy for my question some days ago.

Cheers,
Joram