Hi Hans, >> 1. For 7/8 and sim., I like “irregular”. >> 2. For (3+4)/8 and sim., I like “additive”. > > For irregular meters, it is common not to write out the plus sign, not at > all, or just enough to provide suitable disambiguation. Thus, there is a > difference between irregular meters and irregular time signatures. > > In your example 2, both meters are irregular, but the second could be called, > in addition, an additive time signature. In the example 1, the meter could be > said to be 3+2+2 or 2+2+3, leaving it to the performer to infer it, say from > the beaming or the type of tune.
Excellent differentiation! Yes, “irregular time signature” probably doesn’t make any real semantic sense: 7/8 is a “regular” time signature denoting an *irregular* meter. :) >> 3. For 3/8+2/4 and sim., I like “mixed”. > > In Bulgarian music, they have complex irregular meters, but when they combine > meters, they call it mixed. They need not be complex: there was a case of > switching between 2- and 3-time. > There can be an ambiguity. For example, the Sedi Donka noted as mixed 25 = > 7+7+11 separated by bars, with irregular meters 7 = 3+2+2, and 11 = 2+2+3+2+2 > with no plus signs. > However, because the mixed meter is completely regular, it is natural to > think of it as an irregular meter in 25-time. So there, I decided to use > dotted bars. > >> 4. For 6/8 (3/4) and sim., I like “alternating”. > > You mean as in America, the West Side Story song? > https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/America_(West_Side_Story_song) Yes. > In the Bulgarian usage, “mixed” just means that the meter is shifting; it > need not do that in a regular manner. If the meter shifted regularly between 3/8+2/4 and 3/4, would it be accurate and clear to say: 3/8+2/4 is an additive time signature denoting an irregular meter (7/8); 3/4 is a simple triple meter denoting a regular meter (3/4); and (3/8+2/4)(3/4) is a alternating [and “complex”?] time signature combination denoting a meter that shifts in a regular manner ? > I haven't encountered those, so fine. 🙂 There are some very illustrative — and very logical — examples in the works of some modern classical composers (e.g., Adès). >> 6. I would like to save “irrational” for 3/π and other truly irrational >> signatures. > > It agrees with the mathematical definition of irrational numbers. > >> 7. “Compound” can be reserved for cases in which [to quote that Wikipedia >> page] “the note values specified by the bottom number are grouped into >> threes, and the upper number is a multiple of 3, such as 6, 9, or 12”, and >> “simple” can be reserved for the rest. > > This terminology seems deeply ingrained in English usage. Yes, that one seems fixed. Thanks, Kieren. __________________________________________________ My work day may look different than your work day. Please do not feel obligated to read or respond to this email outside of your normal working hours.
