My encyclopaedia confirms what I always expected to know: a metric
indication such a <whole-note>=60 means that a whole note should have a
duration of 1/60 minute, i.e. 1 second.
However, when looking at scores made at the beginning of the 20th
century I often find scores with a metronomic specification such as
<quarter-note> = 100 (up to 132) although this piece has a nearly
continuous flow of 16th notes. This means, in the intermediate case of a
quarter note equal to 120, that the music player should play 120*4 notes
= 480 notes/min, that is 8 notes per second.
This happens with the set of piano exercises by Czerny, in the Organ
Toccata by Bo�llman, and others. Such a speed seems extremely difficult,
not only to lay but also to listen to. And also, musix CDs I have of
some of these works are really played much slower that posted.
My interpretation is that a mechanic metronome set to 60 sounds one
beat each second, but since it is a pendulum, it sounds alternatingly
tip - top - tip - top - tip - top etc.
Thus I'm afraid that some people understtod the <quarter-notes>=60
specification to result in quarter notes starting, not on each beat, but
on each "tip" (or "top"), so that (perhaps?) <quarter-note>=60 would
mean... 60 quarter notes in TWO minutes.
I'm I right?
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Daniel Taupin, Physique des Solides, Univ. Paris-Sud, 91405 ORSAY
E-mail : mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
T�l: (33) 1.69.15.60.79, Fax: (33) 1.69.15.60.86
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