Klarinet Archive - Posting 000258.txt from 2001/10

From: Jim Bartram <jbartram@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] time signatures
Date: Tue, 9 Oct 2001 17:31:49 -0400

Ed,

The deep answer to this is by no means simple, given that our music notation
system has evolved over many centuries, and there are many odd inconsistencies
and holdovers from past eras. I won't bore you with details; 2/4 and "Alla
Breve"/"Cut Time" are logically equivalent. "Alla Breve" (C with vertical
slash) indicated 2/2 several centuries ago (as opposed to "O", which indicated
triple time). Audrey's remarks make sense to me, too -- that 2/2 can be easier
to read than 2/4.

Hope this helps. If you're really wanting getting into the history of music
notation, you could do worse than to take a look at "The Notation of Western
Music" by Richard Rastall

At 11:55 AM 10/9/01 -0400, Ed wrote:
>I have a question regarding the use and origins of time signatures. Often
>when teaching young students cut-time (2/2), I get a puzzled look and they
>inquire "why don't they just write it in 2/4 and use quarter notes instead
>of half notes?" I don't really have any good answers. I suspect that there
>is a historic reason, but unless I fell asleep that day in music history, I
>really am not aware of it. Any answers?
>
>Ed

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