Differentiating 2/4 and 4/4 in Grade 7 ABRSM Aural Test?

[chopinfrederic]

Hello,

I'm kind of confused on how to differentiate 2/4 and 4/4 by hearing. I got it right sometimes, but another time I got it wrong. My test is coming up really soon. 2 more days to go.

Can anybody help me please?
Thank you very much in advance!

[chopinlover01]

Try feeling the pulse of the piece you're hearing. Listen to some pieces in various time sigs and see if that helps.
Good luck with your exam!

[1piano4joe]

Hi chopinfrederic,

I don't know of a reliable method that works in every case. There may be one, there may be several, I just don't know one. Since you only have two days, I'll give it a shot and offer my 2 cents worth.

I suspect that there isn't a way that works 100% of the time. This makes sense to me since pretty much anything goes in music. For instance, in 3/4 time sometimes you accent the 1st beat say in a waltz, 2nd beat in a mazurka or even a 3rd beat sometimes or none at all.

What to do? Well, I don't have a "simple" solution. Also, I'm not familiar with this specific aural test. So, what I'm about to say may or may not help at all. If the listening test is only a few measures than some of my ideas may not help. Anyway, here goes.

Tempo, phrasing, pulse, period, accompaniment, etc. may offer a hint or clue.

Marches can have a loud/ soft pulse and a "march tempo". If you heard one, it would suggest 2/4 time.

I'm only guessing but could a four measure phrase be in 2/4 time? Maybe, but this would suggest to me a 4/4 time.

Did Chopin write in 2/4? I have no idea. I'm just speculating but maybe if it sounds like a lyrical, romantic piece than it's probably not 2/4.

An Alberti bass is often used in a sonatina which many times is 4/4 but not always. This wouldn't be so "reliable" then, would it?

Anyway, that's the best I could do.

I hope that helps, Joe.

P.S. I know the RCM aural test is a small percentage of your grade. If that's the case in the ABRSM, I wouldn't get overly worried about it as it won't neither make nor break you.



 

[8_octaves]

Did Chopin write in 2/4? I have no idea.
 

Hi 1piano4joe,

yes, he did. E.g. the Nocturne op.15,2 F sharp major, Etudes op. 10 nr 3,5, op. 25,9, Etude (Methode d. m. ) Nr 2 A flat major, all three Ecossaises, some parts (Theme + some of the variations, incl. the difficult "supplement"-variation ) from op. 2 "La ci darem..", then the beginning of the Kurpinsky-part of the Fantasy on polish airs, "many" rondos, e.g. the rondo-part of the "Krakowiak", the rondo of the piano concerto e-minor, and his op.1-rondo c-minor.
And the finale of his Trio op.8. And some of his Polish songs op.74: "Trübe Wellen", a part of the song "Mir aus den Augen", "der Bote", "zwei Leichen", "Melancholie", "Die Heimkehr".

The mazurka op.33,3 C major is a funny case: It's written in 3/4, but Chopin once met Meyerbeer, who insisted, after they played / heard it many times, that it was 2/4. Chopin: "3/4!!!" Meyerbeer: "No, 2/4!!!!!!" Chopin: "..........**!!!",   and sources (Schonberg, I think, if I'm correct, but maybe other sources say it, too) say, that Chopin got very angry (which was a rare thing to occur, I think. )!

So, perhaps @chopinfrederic, it might be an idea to listen closely to some 2/4-recordings, and then compare them to some 4/4 recordings, in addition to the hints already given (pulse, etc., and "weighting" of parts of bars in different metrums.)

Cordially, 8_octaves!