Missing accidentals for key changes

• Aug 15, 2023 - 20:28

Is there an option to add naturals for key changes? In the example below, there is an accidental for A when changing from E-flat major to B-flat major.
Screenshot 2023-08-15 at 12.26.15 PM.png

In MuseScore, however, there is no accidental (although there should be one).
Screenshot 2023-08-15 at 12.26.19 PM.png


Comments

"In MuseScore, however, there is no accidental (although there should be one)."
Actually what you are seeing is the default behaviour of MuseScore. And as pointed out, different styles are available.

So why are cancelling naturals not used in the default setting? That's because the MuseScore designers tried to follow the recommendations in Elaine Gould's notation handbook "Behind Bars".

Here is what Gould says on pp.92-93 in the Key Changes section:

TRADITIONAL PRACTICE
Natural signs cancel a key signature before a new one is stated. The naturals should appear in the order of the key signature they are cancelling.

CONTEMPORARY PRACTICE
At a key change use only the new key signature. This gives a simpler result. A previous key signature requires cancelling with naturals only when the new section has no key signature.

So MuseScore's default behaviour is contemporary and up to date. For those users who want to emulate earlier styles of key change (with cancelling naturals) there are two different options.

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