Expressions

If you upgraded to Finale 2009 from an earlier version, see Finale 2009 Interface Changes to learn how expressions have changed.

Expressions are markings that tell the performer how to interpret (or express) a musical passage. In Finale, expressions are generally symbols or text placed above or below the staff. Dynamics, tempo indications (Allegro), and performance practice markings (pizz.) are among the figures added as expressions. Because of their positioning characteristics, expressions are best suited for other types of markings as well, such as rehearsal letters. (Although shapes such as slurs and hairpins are also used to communicate the manner of expression, these are generally added as Smart Shapes, whose properties are specially designed for graphical editing. Markings that apply to a single note/beat are added as Articulations.)

Because similar types of expressions usually share positioning and appearance characteristics, Finale separates the different types of expressions into independent categories. Categories permit, for example, all dynamics to automatically share the same font, size, and positioning settings. Furthermore, changes to a category apply to all expressions in that category, including those that have already been added to the score. Finale includes six categories already, each with unique font, positioning, and staff assignment settings. (Each category's settings can be changed at any time using the Category Designer dialog box).

Expression Type	Example
Dynamics
Tempo Marks
Tempo Alterations
Expressive Text
Technique Text
Rehearsal Marks

Additional expression categories may be added in the Category Designer dialog box, and individual expressions may be moved from one category to another in the Expression Selection dialog box.

Behind the scenes, the markings available in the Expression Selection dialog box are stored in libraries. All of Finale's expressions, articulations, and other markings are stored in libraries because different documents require different types of markings. For example, if you’re scoring a big band piece, you may want to create a library full of fall-off, bend, and “doit” markings—but you certainly won’t need those expressions when you write a string quartet. The File Menu in Finale offers two commands: Load Library, for bringing expression marks into a document, and Save Library, for storing symbols you have created or modified in a separate library of their own, ready to be imported into future pieces. Note that Document Styles include libraries, and can be used to load a collection of libraries every time you begin a new document.

A basic set of Expression markings is already included whenever you start a new default document, template, or document with the Setup Wizard. If the Expression Selection dialog box is empty when you’re attempting to place an expression in the score, you can remedy the situation by choosing Load Library from the File Menu, locating the Libraries folder, and double-clicking the correct libraries (the Articulation Library for the Articulation Tool, Text Expression Library and Shape Expression Library for the Expression Tool).

For information regarding specific markings (tempo indications, crescendos, and so on), see their individual entries.

For information regarding the behavior of expressions in linked parts, see Expressions in linked parts.

If you intend to make use of the Shape Expressions, it’s important that you assign each to a Metatool (see To create Expression Metatools for full instructions) before placing them in the score. Otherwise, you’ll find that the shapes aren’t individually reshapable; if you change one, they all change.

To assign an expression to a staff

These steps demonstrate how to assign a dynamic marking to a staff, the most common type of expression. These general steps also apply to any type of text expression; tempo markings, rehearsal letters, style markings, and performance practice indicators.

Click the Expression Tool $image\Expression_Tool.gif$ .
Double-click on, above, or below the note or measure to which you want to attach the marking. To add an expression to multiple adjacent staves, click and drag a box around those staves. The Expression Selection dialog box appears.
Choose the Dynamics category from the list on the left (or choose Show All to display all of them). Each category represents font and positioning settings that apply to all included expressions (see Category Designer). All dynamics in the score, as well as future dynamics added, will respect changes made to the Dynamics category unless the expression has been specifically excluded from category settings in the Expression Designer (by unchecking the Use Category Fonts/Use Category Positioning check boxes).

Notice the number to the upper right of some expressions. This is the metatool assignment (see below). You can hold down this key and click to add the expression directly to the score. While viewing the Expression Selection dialog box, to assign a new metatool key to a selected expression, hold down shift and press the key (see To create expression metatools).

Click Assign (or double-click the expression) to add it to the score. Since this expression is not a tempo mark, tempo alteration, or rehearsal mark (see Score List) it can be assigned to any number of staves. Click the popup arrow next to the Assign button to choose a list of specific staves for assignment. Or click Assign to Specific Staves to define a new list. See Assign to Staves dialog box. See To assign an Expression to Multiple Staves (Assignment Lists). Finale assigns the expression according to positioning settings defined for the category in the Category Designer. An attachment indicator line displays the expression's attachment point. Click and drag the expression to change the expression's attachment point (to a different beat or measure). To position the expression relative to a different staff, drag the expression over the desired staff

The same category settings also apply to expressions added with metatools...

To add an expression to multiple staves (Score Lists)

Some expressions always apply to the performance of the full score (every staff) including tempo marks, tempo alterations, and rehearsal marks. Whenever you add an expression in one of these categories, they appear on staves selected in its category's Score List. See Category Designer.

To assign expressions to multiple staves (Assignment Lists)

Expressions that apply to single staves, including dynamics, technique text, and expressive text, can be added to multiple adjacent staves simultaneously using metatools (see To add an expression using metatools below). They can also be added to all staves, or a selection of specific staves using the Assign popup menu in the Expression Selection dialog box. Assignment Lists can be defined in the Assign to Staves dialog box.

Click the Expression Tool $image\Expression_Tool.gif$ .
Double-click on, above, or below the note or measure to which you want to attach the marking. Or, double-click the handle of an existing expression. The Expression Selection dialog box appears.
Choose the Dynamics, Expressive Text, or Technique Text category from the list on the left. Assignment Lists are only available for categories not compatible with Score Lists.
Click the popup list next to the Assign button and choose the desired Assignment List. Finale adds the expression to the staves specified in the list. If you originally double-clicked an existing expression, Finale replaces the existing expression(s) with the newly assigned ones.
To create a new list, click Assign to Staves to open the Assign to Staves dialog box where you can define a new Assignment List.

You can also change the staff assignment of an existing expression by ctrl-clicking the expression and choosing Assign to Staves. See Expression Tool contextual menus.

Additional expression assignment keyboard shortcuts

Select an expression handle and press Option-Up arrow or Option-Down arrow to add the expression to the staff above or below (respectively).
Select an expression handle and press Option-Home or Option-End to add the expression to all staves above or below (respectively).
Select an expression handle and press Command-Option-Return to add the expression to all staves.

To add an expression using metatools

To define metatools, see To create expression metatools. To add them, do the following:

Hold down a metatool key and click to quickly add the expression.
Hold down a metatool key, then click and drag over multiple staves to add several expressions at once. See Metatools - To use an expression metatool.

To move or delete an expression

Click the Expression Tool $image\Expression_Tool.gif$ .
Drag the handle to move the marking. As you drag horizontally, the attachment indicator line jumps beats or measures to show the current attachment.
Hold down Option and drag the handle to move the marking without changing the attachment point.
Select it and press delete to remove it. Once the handle is selected, you can also use the arrow keys to “nudge” the marking for fine positioning.

To create an expression

Click the Expression Tool $image\Expression_Tool.gif$ . Double-click on, above, or below the note to which you want to attach the marking. The Expression Selection dialog box appears.
Choose the desired expression category from the list on the left. Finale will automatically apply the category's font, style, and size to the new expression. If you would like to change the font, size, or style, you can do so in the Category Designer dialog box.
Click the Create [expression category] button. The Expression Designer dialog box appears.
Choose the Text radio button and type the text to create a text expression. See Expression Designer.
Choose the Shape radio button and click Create to create a shape expression. Design the shape and click OK. See Shape Designer.
To assign a playback effect for the expression, click the Playback tab. See To define an expression for playback.
Category positioning is already defined. To change the positioning settings for the expression, click the Positioning tab. See To assign the default positioning for an expression.
Click OK. The expression appears in the Expression Selection dialog box.
Click Assign to add it to the score. If the expression is not a tempo mark, tempo alteration, or rehearsal mark (see Score List) it can be assigned to any number of staves. Click the popup arrow next to the Assign button to choose a list of specific staves for assignment. Or click Assign to Specific Staves to define a new list. See Assign to Staves dialog box.
Double-click any expression's handle (or select an expression's handle and press return) to open the Expression Selection dialog box where you can choose a different expression or edit the existing one.
Shift-double-click an expression's handle (or select an expression's handle and press shift-return) to open the Expression Assignment dialog box where you can specify positioning changes, staff assignment, and playback options for the expression.

Expressions that always apply to the full score, such as tempo marks and rehearsal marks, can be assigned to more than one staff using a Score List. You can apply a Score List to a category in the Category Designer. For more information, see Score List dialog box.

To erase Expressions from a region

Click the Selection Tool $image\Selection_Tool.gif$ .
Select the desired region. See Selecting music for some region-selecting shortcuts.
From the Edit Menu, choose Clear Items. The Clear Selected Items dialog box appears.
Check Expressions. There are two types of expressions listed. If you choose "Tempo Marks, Tempo Alterations & Rehearsal Marks" be sure a stack is selected.
Click OK.

To copy expressions

You can copy any musical element from one passage to another. In this discussion, the source measures are those that now contain the marking, and the target measures are those to which you want to copy them.

Click the Selection Tool $image\Selection_Tool.gif$ .
From the Edit Menu, choose Edit Filter. The Edit Filter dialog box appears.
Select Expressions and click OK. There are two Expression check boxes. If you choose Tempo Marks, Tempo Alterations, & Rehearsal Marks, the source region will need to be a stack.
Select the source measures. See Selecting music for some selecting shortcuts.
Drag the first source measure so that it’s superimposed on the first target measure. If the first target measure is offscreen, scroll to it; then, while pressing option, click it. Alternatively, you can use the clipboard to copy (Command-C, then Command-V, see Copying Music).

Note: when you are done copying expressions, open the Edit Filter dialog box again and click "All" if you want Finale to copy everything as you continue to edit your score. The configuration of the Edit Filter dialog box remains until edited manually, even after closing and restarting Finale.

To move expressions assigned to score lists

Three of Finale's default expression categories include score lists: Tempo Marks, Tempo Alterations, and Rehearsal Marks. Score Lists are Finale's way of hiding expressions on certain staves of the full score, although they apply to all staves (and usually appear in every part). See Category Designer dialog box for more information. In the score, they can be moved independently.

Drag the top Master Expression (the one assigned to the highest staff) to move all occurrences of the expression in the score.
Drag a subsequent expression (one assigned to a staff other than the top staff) to move only that expression occurrence.
Hold down ` (tilde) and drag the Master expression to move it independently.

To create a shape

See Shape Designer.

To define an expression for playback

The following instructions allow you to define an expression for playback manually. Note that Human Playback interprets expressions and performs them automatically based on the selected Human Playback Style. See Human Playback.

Click the Expression Tool $image\Expression_Tool.gif$ . If you haven’t yet placed the mark in the score, double-click any note or measure. When the Expression Selection dialog box appears, click the desired category, choose the desired expression, click Edit, then skip the next two instructions.
Click the Playback tab. The playback options appear.
From the Type popup menu, choose the playback effect you want the marking to have. Many of these are self-explanatory: Tempo, Key Velocity, and so on. For a complete description of these items, see Expression Designer dialog box.
To set a specific value for this parameter, enter a number in the Set To Value box. The units for these items are usually what you’d expect. Tempo is quarter notes per minute. Key Velocity is MIDI velocity (0, silent; to 127, very loud). Transposition is in half steps (to transpose up an octave, type 12 in the Set To Value box). When you’ve entered a value into the Set To Value box, you’re finished defining the shape for playback. The rest of these steps deal with creating playback definitions that change over time—for example, MIDI pitch wheel data (for a pitch bend), Tempo (for a ritard), Key Velocity (for a crescendo), and so on.
If the playback parameter is to change over time, select Execute Shape, and then click the Select button. The Executable Shape Selection box appears. If the desired shape appears here, double-click it and skip to the instruction marked by the asterisk (*).
Click Create. In the next box, click Shape ID. In the next box, click Create. You’re now in the Shape Designer. For a more complete discussion of the Shape Designer, see Shape Designer.
Choose Rulers and Grid from the Shape Designer Menu. A box appears, asking you to specify the background grid increments.
Click Eighth Notes, enter 1 in the text box, then click OK. From the Show submenu of the Shape Designer Menu, choose Grid. You should now see a network of grid points; each horizontal gridpoint represents an eighth note’s duration.
Draw the Executable Shape. Again, see Shape Designer. You’re drawing, in fact, a graph whose contour Finale will follow as it plays back your music. A ritard (or a diminuendo, for that matter) looks like a straight line, or gentle curve, sloping down. A pitch bend looks like a scoop down or up. For details on these individual markings, see separate entries for Trills; Rallentando; Pitch wheel; and so on. As you draw, keep in mind that each imaginary vertical gridline represents an eighth note’s duration, and each horizontal gridline represents one change in value. If you’re creating a crescendo, the volume will increase an equal amount each time your shape crosses a horizontal gridline. If you’re creating a rallentando, the tempo will decrease each time your shape crosses a horizontal gridline. In a later step, you’ll learn how to determine the rhythmic value of these gridlines—specifying, for example, whether the volume increases every eighth note or every sixteenth note. But for the moment, realize that the height of your shape (the number of horizontal gridlines it crosses) determines how many changes in value there will be. (The shape for a rallentando that crosses eight horizontal gridlines will create eight small tempo changes when the expression to which it’s assigned is played back.)
Press return twice. You arrive at the Executable Shape Designer box. The two most important elements here are the Time Scale and Level Scale boxes.
Enter a new Time Scale, if necessary. When you created the shape, you determined how long the playback effect would last (by the number of vertical gridlines your shape crossed). The Time Scale ratio—formed by a combination of the two text boxes—is multiplied by the length of the shape you drew so that you can change the total duration affected by the shape. A 1:1 ratio means that each vertical gridline your shape crosses (in the Shape Designer) represents an eighth note duration. Suppose you’re defining the Executable Shape for a crescendo. If the shape you drew was only a quarter note long (two gridlines in the Shape Designer), the crescendo will last for exactly a quarter note—if you leave the Time Scale at 1:1. To make the crescendo last twice as long, change the Time Scale to 2:1. If you want it to last only a third as long, the Time Scale should be 1:3. The values you enter here determine the span of time affected by your shape.
Enter a new Level Scale, if necessary. The Level Scale, like the Time Scale, is a ratio. Instead of determining how long the Executable Shape’s effect will last, the Level Scale determines how much change you’ll hear (in the MIDI parameter you’ve specified). When you designed your shape, each horizontal gridline crossed by your shape represented one change in MIDI value: a tempo change from 60 to 59 beats per minute, a MIDI key velocity change from 120 to 121, a transposition down one half step. By changing the Level Scale, you can multiply that number to create more dramatic changes in the playback effect. For a ritard, you might want to specify a Level Scale of 10:1, so that the tempo drops by 10 beats per minute for each horizontal gridline crossed by your shape.
Command-click the OK button. Listen to the effect of your Executable Shape. Can you even hear your ritard in playback? If not, increase the Level Scale ratio. Is your crescendo too brief? Then increase the Time Scale ratio. If you’re still puzzled, examine one of the predefined Text or Shape Expressions that use Executable Shapes: the crescendo hairpin, for example, or the rallentando expression.

To change the default positioning for an expression category

From the Document Menu, choose Category Designer. The Category Designer dialog box appears.
Select the category and edit the positioning settings (see Category Designer dialog box).
Click OK. Existing and future expressions in the category reflect your updated positioning settings.