I thought it was a bit late for fugured bass. I just thought
> that some folk were perhaps still in the habit of using this method.
This is probably true. Old habits die hard and I'm sure that everyone
didn't wake up one morning and decide never to use figured bass again :-)
>
> Those markings; 6 3 6
> 4 7
>
> I would welcome an explanation!
OK, digging into the cobwebs of college days...
6/4 is the second inversion of the root chord. For instance, from bass to
treble, a C root position triad would be C-E-G. 6/4 inversion is E-G-C
denoting that E would be the lowest pitch. 3/7? All the 7 chords I know
are written as 6/5, 6/4 and 6/4/2. Could one of the numbers be the scale
tone? And am I even interpreting it right?
>
> I do not know what Alberti bass is, Carol, but would like to know.
Alberti bass is the broken chord 1-5-3-5. Think of Mozarts Piano Sonata
K533.
This is still an age where the basso continuo was mostly improvised
especially in 'non classical' music. Please let me know if I can be of any
help to you.
> It is not our intention to add anything that is not there. There are some
> apparently well composed bass parts while some are sparse and perfunctory.
Carol
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