Christoph Dalitz wrote: > > AFAFIK, these terms do not apply to classical music notation but to > mensural notation, ...
Not at all. The longa was used well into the 16th Century at least. The brevis is occasionally found even today. > which is currently not supported by abc at all. (Well, actually BarFly does support mensural notation after a fashion - although that's not the point here, of course) > On the other hand it would be of not too much use, because worldwide > only a handful of people can read it. (I have to admit that my mensural notation skills is at about the same level as my Spanish skills: I can read it if I really have to, but I'd rather not. But again, mensural notation is not the point here.) > > When transcribing medieval or early Renaissance music, the note values > need to be matched to modern time values. Well, "need" might not be the right word here... Why don't you just skip over to the Musica Viva Renaissance Workshop: http://www.musicaviva.com/ensemble/rv/index.tpl Most of the music there are presented with their original note values, and so far nobody has complained. > > The common practice is: ... If "common" means "late 19th and early 20th Century", yes. ... > for "perfect time" 3 the translation is different. Not that much different. Ususally you just have to remember to add the dots that were taken for granted in the original. > > If I understand Laura right, she uses method a) ... She doesn't. She always uses the original note values when she's transcribing. > > Now my questions to Laura are: (Hope you don't mind me answering them instead ;-) > > What do you mean with "longa"? Here are the English note value names. Each one on the list represent a note value half the previous one: Maxima Longa Breve Semibreve Minim Crotchet Quaver Semiquaver Demisemiquaver Hemidemisemiquaver > > Presumably a "quadruple note" would occur only on final notes. Usually yes, but not always > In most modern edition it is printed as a double note with a > fermata. Is that not sufficient? It isn't. > > What would the music symbol be for a "quadruple note" in > music and in tablature? http://www.musicaviva.com/encyclopedia/display.tpl?phrase=Note%20values In tablature, the brevis is notated as a fermata sign. I've never seen a longa in tablature, so I don't know how that sign would be. > Is it at all readable? Sure. Frank Nordberg http://www.musicaviva.com To subscribe/unsubscribe, point your browser to: http://www.tullochgorm.com/lists.html
