The G.P.

[John Ruggero]

Over at Dorico, someone just inquired about a G.P. that centers itself over a whole rest, and which doesn't appear in a menu. There had been a previous request to add it to the Dorico fermata area (which includes several curious ones I've never seen before, but then I live mostly in the 18th and 19th centuries.)

When I was younger, I thought that a G.P. was a fermata, but for everyone in the ensemble. Then a more knowledgable person (A. Arnstein) informed me that it was an exactly-counted-out silence for everyone. Various music dictionaries and the standard repertoire seem to agree with him. However, I see the following definition at merriam-webster.com: "a nonrhythmic rest in all parts in ensemble music"

This and the request at Dorico gets me wondering. Has the definition of a G.P. changed recently?

[RMK]

Merriam-webster is incorrect.

[John Ruggero]

Thank goodness!