Dear Peter & All, Questions like this send me off to my shelf in search of my copy of Dowland's translation of the 'Micrologus' of Andreas Ornithoparchus, a compendium of music theory originally published in Leipzig in 1517 which Dowland translated and published in 1609. In chapter 5, under the heading 'of prolation' we find that a point enclosed by a circle symbolises the 'greater prolation' which equates to a 'semibreve measured by three minims.' The unbroken circle symbolises perfect time (because in Medieval symbolism the holy trinity is perfect?). So in applying this to Dalza's recercar on f. 7, the piece starts in triple time with each measure having a value of a semibreve. The first three measures indeed have three minims each.
Over the page on f.7v the time changes with the sign of a broken circle with a vertical line through it and a numeral 3 set against it. The broken circle indicates imperfect (i.e. duple) time. The tables in the Micrologus suggest that the vertical line indicates a 'diminution' and the numeral 3 indicates that the diminution is of a factor of 3. The definition of a diminution is a little confusing: apparently 'the ancients' considered it to consist of reducing the length of a measure by a third, whilst 'the moderns' consider it to be reducing the length of a measure by a half. But it goes on to say that a number placed against the diminution sign indicates the value of the diminution. My guess is that the sign in measure 4 of the Dalza recercar on f.7v indicates that the semibreve measure length is now reduced by a third, (following the 'Ancient' interpretation). This is exactly what happens in the music - we now have two minims per measure instead of three. This would mean that the duration of a minim remains the same but the time changes. If anyone has a better informed interpretation of this I would be delighted to know! Best wishes, Denys ----- Original Message ----- From: "Peter Nightingale" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Lute List" <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, October 24, 2006 2:35 PM Subject: [LUTE] Dalza > Dear List, > > Does anyone know what the time signature in Dalza (Intabulatura de Lauto, > 1508) Recercar f7r means. The first symbol is an O with a dot in the > middle and it starts in triple meter 1 1 1 | 1 1 1 | ... (1 stands for a > single flag). In measure 29 a c-slash (as in alla breve) followed by a > big 3: 1 2 2 | 2 2 2 2| ... What is one supposed to do? Speed up as in | > 1 1 1 | -> | 1 1 | 1 1 |; or slow down as in | 1 1 1 | -> | 1 1 |; or does > the 1-beat stay the same; or ... > > Thanks, > Peter. > > the next auto-quote is: > A tyrant must put on the appearance of uncommon devotion to religion. > Subjects are less apprehensive of illegal treatment from a ruler whom > they consider god-fearing and pious. On the other hand, they do less > easily move against him, believing that he has the gods on his side. > (Aristotle) > /\/\ > Peter Nightingale Telephone (401) 874-5882 > Department of Physics, East Hall Fax (401) 874-2380 > University of Rhode Island Kingston, RI 02881 > > > > To get on or off this list see list information at > http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html > > > > -- > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.13.9/490 - Release Date: 20/10/2006 > > -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.13.9/490 - Release Date: 20/10/2006
