commas in handel suites, how to apply it in practice on piano

[bonnerik]

i often see commas either in the middle of or above the grand staff. sometimes they are big, sometimes a little smaller, and sometimes inside of a paranthesis. i know that commas indicate a moment of breath, but how would i apply this on the piano, does the note after the comma land on a beat, or does this comma make his pieces impossible to play to a metronome.

for example, https://imslp.org/wiki/Special:ImagefromIndex/77919
page 75, second section last measure, u can see a comma in the middle of the staffs

any help appreciated!

[iansinclair]

Are you referring to the second to the last measure of variation 24?  If so, that is an eighth rest, not a comma, and goes with the following A.

[bonnerik]

No, what i am talking about is a (') which would be more of an apostrophe i guess. sometimes its inside of a parenthesis, sometimes above the g staff and sometimes above the f staff

[iansinclair]

No, what i am talking about is a (') which would be more of an apostrophe i guess. sometimes its inside of a parenthesis, sometimes above the g staff and sometimes above the f staff

Sorry -- I guess I just didn't see what you were looking at.  In answer to your original question, if it really is a phrase mark -- and it may well -- the appropriate way to handle it is to cut off the preceding note slightly early, but play the following note right on the beat.  Sort of a one note detache effect.

[thesixthsensemusic]

It serves the same function as in a written sentence. A mark where one should pause for a very brief moment before continuing with the bit after the comma.

[j_menz]

does this comma make his pieces impossible to play to a metronome.

Handel had never heard of a metronome, so why should he care about being able to be played to one?

[bonnerik]

ok. so to play this i cut off the note before the mark a little, and add a rest instead ? sometimes the commas are above or in the middle of the grand staff, and sometimes in a paranthesis, and i dont know how to approach it, anyone know ?

[iansinclair]

I wouldn't call it a rest -- just a very brief pause with no sound.  But that would be my preference.  Which line to apply it to would depend on exactly where the comma was; it might be just one line of the counterpoint, or it might be to a group of lines -- or it might be to the whole fabric all at once.