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Topic: Bach, prelude in G Major book I : Time signature (?) (Read 9344 times)

m1469

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Bach, prelude in G Major book I : Time signature (?)

on: November 28, 2005, 11:21:05 PM

I just have a little question with regard to the time signature here. In the bass clef, the time signature is "common time" while in the Treble clef, the time signature is 24/16.

Why ?

Why not just have both be in 4 ?

(and for that matter, why even have a time signature of 24/16 ? My only guess is that this changes the articulation a little)

m1469

ps- Kalmus edition

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allchopin

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Re: Bach, prelude in G Major book I : Time signature (?)

Reply #1 on: November 29, 2005, 12:04:20 AM

It doesn't change the articulation, but the implied tempo. This could have been a way of writing something like 'Allegro' on music today. Of course this is pointless to do now, because we can use metronome markings and/or words and just 1) simplify the time signature to 3/2 or 2) just write the notes as triplets.

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m1469

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Re: Bach, prelude in G Major book I : Time signature (?)

Reply #2 on: November 29, 2005, 12:15:43 AM

Quote from: allchopin on November 29, 2005, 12:04:20 AM

It doesn't change the articulation, but the implied tempo. This could have been a way of writing something like 'Allegro' on music today.

hmmm... that's interesting. Thanks

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sonatainfsharp

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Re: Bach, prelude in G Major book I : Time signature (?)

Reply #3 on: November 29, 2005, 12:57:32 AM

Quote from: allchopin on November 29, 2005, 12:04:20 AM

It doesn't change the articulation, but the implied tempo. This could have been a way of writing something like 'Allegro' on music today. Of course this is pointless to do now, because we can use metronome markings and/or words and just 1) simplify the time signature to 3/2 or 2) just write the notes as triplets.

I couldn't agree more!

Another example I often use is the time signature for Chopin's e minor prelude. There is a reason it is in 2/2 and not 4/4.

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fuel925

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Re: Bach, prelude in G Major book I : Time signature (?)

Reply #4 on: November 29, 2005, 04:58:54 PM

Quote from: sonatainfsharp on November 29, 2005, 12:57:32 AM

I couldn't agree more!

Another example I often use is the time signature for Chopin's e minor prelude. There is a reason it is in 2/2 and not 4/4.

Could you please elaborate more on what you said about the time signature being 2/2 instead of 4/4? In what ways would this affect the way the music sounds?

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Topic: Bach, prelude in G Major book I : Time signature (?) (Read 9344 times)

Piano Street Magazine:Josef Hofmann – The Pianist Inventor

Piano Street Magazine:
A Daily Dose of Bach? – Access his Complete Scores on Piano Street

Piano Street Magazine:
Josef Hofmann – The Pianist Inventor