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Topic: metronome markings  (Read 3441 times)

Offline michael_sayers

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metronome markings
on: June 04, 2015, 08:34:35 PM
Hi Everyone,

I recall a source which says that for a m.m marking such as m.m. = 47 - 52, the tempo will range from 47 to 52 rather than being a particular tempo in that range.

To accommodate this the score could read "m.m. = 47, 48, 49, 50, 51 or 52". This seems like an unnecessarily long solution, especially for one that is m.m. = 99 - 130.

Maybe someone here has thoughts on how to have a m.m. marking encompass the guideline in that source and suggest a range of tempos rather than a tempo range.


Mvh,
Michael

Offline j_menz

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Re: metronome markings
Reply #1 on: June 05, 2015, 02:39:04 AM
My suggestion - use a tempo/mood indication (such as Allegro, Andante etc) instead of a mm marking. They're much more useful anyway.
"What the world needs is more geniuses with humility. There are so few of us left" -- Oscar Levant

Offline michael_sayers

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Re: metronome markings
Reply #2 on: June 05, 2015, 10:14:46 AM
My suggestion - use a tempo/mood indication (such as Allegro, Andante etc) instead of a mm marking. They're much more useful anyway.

Hi j_menz,

Sometimes more precision is desired.  A mood indicator can go between the staves [such as "con furia", "solenne", et c.].


Mvh,
Michael

Offline j_menz

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Re: metronome markings
Reply #3 on: June 05, 2015, 12:22:23 PM
Sometimes more precision is desired. 

Tempo is a function of heartbeat (so it's perception will depend on what's preceded). Some pianos sound faster than others. Some rooms sound faster than others.

Don't confuse precision with accuracy.

1 + 1 = 2.0000003143637 is still wrong.
"What the world needs is more geniuses with humility. There are so few of us left" -- Oscar Levant

Offline michael_sayers

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Re: metronome markings
Reply #4 on: June 06, 2015, 09:18:37 PM
Tempo is a function of heartbeat (so it's perception will depend on what's preceded). Some pianos sound faster than others. Some rooms sound faster than others.

Don't confuse precision with accuracy.

1 + 1 = 2.0000003143637 is still wrong.

Hi j_menz,

I agree.  So one might suggest a range of (for instance) 47 - 58.  The source I read implied that "m.m. = 47 - 58" would indicate for the tempo to fluctuate within that range.  Yet to have "m.m. = 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57 or 58", in order to avoid suggesting to some readers that the tempo will fluctuate with a range from 47 to 58, seems like a peculiarly long m.m. indication.


Mvh,
Michael
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