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Unmetered music

Bar lines and bar numbers are calculated automatically. For unmetered music (some cadenzas, for example), this is not desirable. To turn off automatic calculation of bar lines and bar numbers, use the command \cadenzaOn, and use \cadenzaOff to turn them on again.

c4 d e d
\cadenzaOn
c4 c d8 d d f4 g4.
\cadenzaOff
\bar "|"
d4 e d c

[image of music]

Bar numbering is resumed at the end of the cadenza as if the cadenza were not there:

% Show all bar numbers
\override Score.BarNumber #'break-visibility = #all-visible
c4 d e d
\cadenzaOn
c4 c d8 d d f4 g4.
\cadenzaOff
\bar "|"
d4 e d c

[image of music]

Predefined commands

\cadenzaOn, \cadenzaOff.

See also

Music Glossary: cadenza.

Notation Reference:

Snippets: Rhythms.

Known issues and warnings

LilyPond will insert line breaks and page breaks only at a bar line. Unless the unmetered music ends before the end of the staff line, you will need to insert invisible bar lines with

\bar ""

to indicate where breaks can occur.

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