Cadenzas

A cadenza—an unmeasured, free, often improvisatory solo passage—presents several notational challenges. First, the notes are often smaller than usual; see Cue notes for instructions. Second, there may be many more notes within a measure than the time signature would normally allow. There are different ways of creating a cadenza, but here are two of the most popular approaches.

To permit unlimited notes in one measure (Time Signature method)

Using this method, you can enter as many notes as you need and modify them easily later. With this method, you can also create inner voices that line up with each other.

Choose the Time Signature tool and double-click the cadenza measure. The Time Signature dialog box appears.
Click the top right scroll bar arrow to increase the number of beats in the measure until it equals the total number of beats in the cadenza. For example, a 54/4 measure.
Click OK. A time signature appears in the cadenza measure and the next measure.
Choose the Measure tool and double-click the barline handle of the cadenza measure. The Measure Attributes dialog box appears.
Choose Time Signature > Always Hide.
Click OK (or press RETURN). Repeat for the measure after the cadenza.

Alternatively, you can enter the notes as you would normally and hide the extra barlines. See To hide one barline.

To permit unlimited notes in one measure (Position Notes Evenly method)

Using this method, you can make Finale space an unlimited number of notes evenly in a measure, regardless of the meter.

Choose the Measure tool and double-click the barline handle of the cadenza measure. The Measure Attributes dialog box appears.
Select Position Notes Evenly Across Measure. If you want to hide the ending barline (to continue the cadenza onto the next line), click the invisible barline icon.
Click OK (or press RETURN).
Choose the Speedy Entry tool . The Speedy menu appears.
Deselect Speedy > Jump to Next Measure.
Enter the music into the modified measure, using the / (slash) key to break or create beams within the cadenza.
When you exit the measure, the There Are Too Many Beats alert box appears; make sure that Leave the Measure Alone is selected and press RETURN.