Narrow Two Voices

Added 01 Aug 2005 (last updated 17 Jun 2015)

For use with Sibelius 4, Sibelius 4.1, Sibelius 5, Sibelius 6, Sibelius 7.1, Sibelius 7.5, Sibelius 8.x, Sibelius 18.x, Sibelius 19.x, Sibelius 20.x, Sibelius 21.x, Sibelius 22.x, Sibelius 23.x and Sibelius 24.x

This plug-in controls the horizontal note offset in passages which use voice 1 and voice 2 simultaneously. There are three actions predefined (you can define and save more actions for yourself):

  • Default Rules of Sibelius: This essentially behaves identically to Sibelius, but corrects some known problems: a unison of two semibreves shows now two noteheads, and so does a unison of e.g. a dotted minim and an undotted crotchet.
  • Narrow Mode: In situations where voice 2 goes above voice 1, move the voice 2 notes to the left. This allows a more dense note typesetting and is used in particular in organ and piano music.
  • Arpeggio Mode: If you have fast arpeggios running in voice 1 while voice 2 doubles the first note of each arpeggio with a longer note, it is common that the noteheads on the first beats are typeset overlapping.

To use the plug-in, make a passage selection (i.e. a single box), then choose Narrow Two Voices from the Plug-ins menu and follow the on-screen instructions.

Changes in v2.0 (updated 29 August 2005):

  • Plug-in now requires use of the Preferences plug-in, so will only run in Sibelius 4
  • Added wizard with three pre-defined modes, to select your job with two clicks
  • Added font metrics for Helsinki font
  • improved offset mechanism for several combinations of dotted/undotted notes

Changes in v1.20 (updated 17 November 2004):

  • Now possible to force noteheads to overlap, even if their shape differs (useful for arpeggio-like passages where the first note is played with longer notes in a second voice)
  • Added fixes for the positioning of unison semibreves and dotted notes in one voice at the same pitch as undotted notes in another
  • Added a full set of user options

Plug-in written by Hans-Christoph Wirth.