Alla breve[alla ˈbrɛːve] – also known as cut time or cut common time – is a musical meter notated by the time signature symbol (a C with a vertical line through it), which is the equivalent of 2 2.[1] The term is Italian for "on the breve", originally meaning that the beat was counted on the breve.[2]
Examples of time signatures for alla breve
Examples of time signatures for common time
Alla breve is a "simple-duple meter with a half-note pulse".[3] The note denomination that represents one beat is the minim or half-note. There are two of these per bar, so that the time signature 2 2 may be interpreted as "two minim beats per bar". Alternatively this is read as two beats per measure, where the half note gets the beat.
The name "common time" refers to 4 4, which has four beats to the bar, each of a quarter note (or crotchet).
In contemporary use, alla breve suggests a fairly quick tempo. Thus, it is used frequently for military marches. From about 1600 to 1900, its meaning with regard to tempo varied, so it cannot always be taken to mean a quick tempo.[4] Using alla breve helps the musician read notes of short duration more cleanly with fewer beats.
Historical usage
Prior to 1600 the term alla breve derives from the system of mensural or proportional notation (also called proportio dupla) in which note values (and their graphical shapes) were related by the ratio 2:1. In this context it means that the tactus or metrical pulse (now commonly referred to as the "beat") is switched from its normal place on the whole note (semibreve) to the double whole note (breve).[4]
Modern notation
White notation (15th–16th centuries)
Black notation (13th–15th centuries)
Early music notation was developed by religious orders, which has resulted in some religious associations in notation. The most obvious is that music in triple time was called tempus perfectum, deriving its name from the Holy Trinity and represented by the "perfect" circle, which has no beginning or end.
Music in duple time was similarly called tempus imperfectum. Its symbol was the broken circle, , which is still used – although it has evolved to mean 4 4, or "common time", today. When cut through by a vertical line "" , it means 2 2 – "cut common", or alla breve.[5]
The use of the vertical line or stroke in a musical graphical symbol, as practiced in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, and now referred to by the modern term of "cut time", did not always have the same meaning as alla breve. It sometimes had other functions, including non-mensural ones.[6]
Example
The following is an example with the same rhythm notated in 2 2 and in 4 4:
Rhythm in 2 2 followed by the same rhythm notated in 4 4. Note there are more eighth and sixteenth notes in the 4 4 version versus eighth and quarter notes in the 2 2 version, one of the reasons 2 2 is typically easier to read at faster tempos.[7]
Audio of the example
Rhythm in 2 2 followed by the same rhythm notated in 4 4
^Schonbrun , Marc (2005). The Everything Reading Music Book, p. 56. ISBN1-59337-324-4.
Sources
Randel, Don Michael (2003). Harvard dictionary of music, fourth edition. Cambridge, Massachusetts: The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press. ISBN0-674-01163-5.
Sadie, Stanley; John Tyrrell, eds. (2001). The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, 2nd edition. New York: Grove's Dictionaries. ISBN1-56159-239-0.
Novello, John (1986). The Contemporary Keyboardist, Hal Leonard Corporation, ISBN0-634-01091-3.
January 26, 2023
alla, breve, confused, with, double, time, time, redirects, here, coordinated, universal, time, coordinated, universal, time, alla, ˈbrɛːve, also, known, time, common, time, musical, meter, notated, time, signature, symbol, with, vertical, line, through, which. Not to be confused with Double time or Cut time redirects here For Coordinated Universal Time see Coordinated Universal Time Alla breve alla ˈbrɛːve also known as cut time or cut common time is a musical meter notated by the time signature symbol a C with a vertical line through it which is the equivalent of 22 1 The term is Italian for on the breve originally meaning that the beat was counted on the breve 2 Examples of time signatures for alla breve Examples of time signatures for common time Alla breve is a simple duple meter with a half note pulse 3 The note denomination that represents one beat is the minim or half note There are two of these per bar so that the time signature 22 may be interpreted as two minim beats per bar Alternatively this is read as two beats per measure where the half note gets the beat The name common time refers to 44 which has four beats to the bar each of a quarter note or crotchet Contents 1 Modern usage 2 Historical usage 3 Example 4 Notes 5 SourcesModern usage EditIn contemporary use alla breve suggests a fairly quick tempo Thus it is used frequently for military marches From about 1600 to 1900 its meaning with regard to tempo varied so it cannot always be taken to mean a quick tempo 4 Using alla breve helps the musician read notes of short duration more cleanly with fewer beats Historical usage EditPrior to 1600 the term alla breve derives from the system of mensural or proportional notation also called proportio dupla in which note values and their graphical shapes were related by the ratio 2 1 In this context it means that the tactus or metrical pulse now commonly referred to as the beat is switched from its normal place on the whole note semibreve to the double whole note breve 4 Modern notation White notation 15th 16th centuries Black notation 13th 15th centuries Early music notation was developed by religious orders which has resulted in some religious associations in notation The most obvious is that music in triple time was called tempus perfectum deriving its name from the Holy Trinity and represented by the perfect circle which has no beginning or end Music in duple time was similarly called tempus imperfectum Its symbol was the broken circle which is still used although it has evolved to mean 44 or common time today When cut through by a vertical line it means 22 cut common or alla breve 5 The use of the vertical line or stroke in a musical graphical symbol as practiced in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance and now referred to by the modern term of cut time did not always have the same meaning as alla breve It sometimes had other functions including non mensural ones 6 Example EditThe following is an example with the same rhythm notated in 22 and in 44 Rhythm in 22 followed by the same rhythm notated in 44 Note there are more eighth and sixteenth notes in the 44 version versus eighth and quarter notes in the 22 version one of the reasons 22 is typically easier to read at faster tempos 7 Audio of the example source source Rhythm in 22 followed by the same rhythm notated in 44 Problems playing this file See media help Notes Edit Randel 2003 pp 33 241 LilyPond Music Glossary v2 18 2 http lilypond org doc v2 18 Documentation music glossary alla breve Duckworth William 2009 A Creative Approach to Music Fundamentals p 38 ISBN 0 495 57220 9 a b Randel 2003 p 33 Novello John 1986 The Contemporary Keyboardist p 37 ISBN 0 634 01091 3 Cut time in Sadie 2001 Schonbrun Marc 2005 The Everything Reading Music Book p 56 ISBN 1 59337 324 4 Sources EditRandel Don Michael 2003 Harvard dictionary of music fourth edition Cambridge Massachusetts The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press ISBN 0 674 01163 5 Sadie Stanley John Tyrrell eds 2001 The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians 2nd edition New York Grove s Dictionaries ISBN 1 56159 239 0 Novello John 1986 The Contemporary Keyboardist Hal Leonard Corporation ISBN 0 634 01091 3 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Alla breve amp oldid 1092271977, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
