Daniel Taupin wrote:
>
> 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?
>
No, '<quarter-note> = 100' beyond despute indicates a metronome tempo of
100 per quarter note. 'Fastness' is always something relative, for
example you wouldn't normally characterize a piano andante by - say
Chopin - containing long chains of grace notes as fast even if the
performance of the piece might require rapid finger movements from the
player. Hence without knowing the mentioned Czerny etudes you're
referring to I can't say whether a metronome indication might seem
unnaturally high. Also with organ music one may be prepared for a
certain level of virtuosity. You'll meet that in baroque organ music
written for the often 'slim' and transparent sound of the instruments of
that time. But even with music written for early 20th century 'heavy'
organs, for example those of Cavallier-Colle (hopefully correctly
spelled) rapid notes may be used as a kind of sound texture.
Regards
--
Christian Mondrup, Computer Programmer
Scandiatransplant, Skejby Hospital, University Hospital of Aarhus
Brendstrupgaardsvej, DK 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark
Phone: +45 89 49 53 01
