"durational equivalent" name?

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dircknagy
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Joined: 13 Jan 2018, 17:43
Location: Minnesota, USA

"durational equivalent" name?

Post by dircknagy »

Hi all

What is this called? (see attached image)

I would call it a "rhythmic equivalent" or "durational equivalent", but i can't find it under these names in notation software manuals.

thanks!
dirck

Screen Shot 2025-06-11 at 8.52.54 AM.png
Screen Shot 2025-06-11 at 8.52.54 AM.png (7.36 KiB) Viewed 569 times
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hautbois baryton
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Re: "durational equivalent" name?

Post by hautbois baryton »

Probably something close to "metric modulation," though in the case above it's showing that the half note remains the same tempo.
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John Ruggero
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Re: "durational equivalent" name?

Post by John Ruggero »

Elaine Gould in her book Behind Bars calls these "metric equations" or "tempo equations" where there is an actual tempo change involved.
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benwiggy
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Joined: 11 Apr 2016, 19:42

Re: "durational equivalent" name?

Post by benwiggy »

Yes, I'd call it a Tempo equation or metric modulation.

Dorico's manual uses "Tempo equations"; but searching for metric modulations will also bring it up (albeit not the first entry). If you just enter "Tempo marks" or "Tempo indications", then one of the first entries will be "types of tempo marks", which lists it. Typing "tempo equivalent" gives me Tempo equations as the fourth result.

Finale's Help pages doesn't really give them a name, but says that 'for complex indications like this (picture), you can use the Shape Designer'.

Sibelius's manual uses Metric Modulation. (Well, the first Google result is a PDF from 2009, written by ... <checks notes> ... Daniel Spreadbury.)
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