what does this mean? "time signature"

[casparma]

..... The reference note is indicated by the denominator, so that the 3/4 waltz has 3 quarter-notes per bar, and 2/4 is, in principle, twice as fast as 2/2 cut time.

what is "reference note"?

why 2/4 is faster than 2/2?  isn't it just a time signature?

.....a syncopated 4/4 might be 2313 or 2331. Note that the 2331 rhythm is fixed throughout the composition, but 1 is at a non-conventional location.

note: 1, means the loudest accent, 2 is softer, and etc...


why is 2331 rhythm fixed? isn't 4/4 1323 by default?

secondly, what does it mean by "1 is at a non-conventional location"?



please help

thanks

[abell88]

what is "reference note"?

The reference note is just telling you what I'm sure you already know: that the bottom note of the time signature is the kind of note that gets one beat. I have not heard it called a reference note before.

why 2/4 is faster than 2/2?  isn't it just a time signature?

Notice that it says "in principle". In fact, yes, it is just a time signature. However, if you had a piece that started in 2/2 and then switched to 2/4 (with the quarter note staying the same from one section to the next), then the 2/4 section would be twice as fast.

why is 2331 rhythm fixed? isn't 4/4 1323 by default?

I assume they mean fixed within that particular piece. 4/4 is normally 1323 by default, as you say.

secondly, what does it mean by "1 is at a non-conventional location"?

They are referring to the syncopated music, with 1 (strongest beat) somewhere other than at the beginning.  The conventional or default is with 1 at the beginning of the bar.

[quantum]

An example of 1 in a non conventional location:

A mazurka is in 3/4 time.  Unlike a waltz where the strongest beat is first, the mazurka can place the strongest beat as:

331 or 313 or 311. 

See Chopin's mazurkas for many good examples. 

[casparma]

t :)nks!!