Dear Dary,
You're absolutely right, of course, but the rhythm signs in the 18th
century are quite different to the rhythm flags used in the 16th
century. They are two distinct systems.
In the early 17th century the old rhythm flags were often replaced
with conventional rhythm signs - crotchets, quavers, etc. The books
of Mertel and Fuhrmann are examples of this. As time went on, it was
found convenient to do away with the big blob at the bottom of every
sign, and just leave the top part. So a crotchet (quarter note) was
notated as a vertical line. The quaver without its blob looked like
the 16th-century rhythm sign for a minim. The 18th-century minim
sign kept its hollow blob, because otherwise it would look the same
as a crotchet.
I think it is important not to confuse these different systems,
which is what Pascale Boquet does in her _Approche du Luth
Renaissance_. She uses the 18th-century style at the beginning of
her book. I would guess that she does so, because the 18th-century
signs are similar to conventional rhythm signs. Beginners on the
lute would be presented with music in familiar terms, at least as
far as the rhythm signs are concerned. However, I think she is wrong
to do so. Her book is about the renaissance lute, so it is
misleading to use a system of signs which really belongs to the 18th
(or late 17th) century.
The note known as a "long" would not normally feature in tablature,
because tablature was nearly always barred. If a very long note was
required ("long" or otherwise), it would be notated as lots of
shorter notes tied together from one bar to the next.
Best wishes,
Stewart.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Gary Digman" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "Stewart McCoy" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Cc: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Tuesday, June 08, 2004 2:59 PM
Subject: Re: Tablature rhythm signs
> Dear Stewart;
>
> By the 18th century tablature rhythm signs are the same as
modern rhythm signs. For instance, facsimiles of E.G. Baron's music
list time signatures, and pieces in 3/4 time have the quarternote
(crotchet) listed as a vertical line, the eighthnote (quaver) as a
vertical line with one flag, etc. I wonder if the disappearance of
the "long" may have had something to do with the halving of the
rhythnmic values. How to notate a "long" in modern notation?
>
>
Gary Digman
