double or triple dots - that is the question

[Contratrombone64]

This is the scenario ... the piece is in cut common time, with a minim (half note) as the beat. The entire bar is taken up by the first note as a triple dotted minim (half note) and the only other note a semiquaver (16th note). I, in fact, think this might be wrong and only a double should suffice, any thoughts from my erudite colleagues?

In case of confusion, I've attached a sample (a prize if you can guess which work it's from).

[wljmrbill]

3 dots add 7/8 the value I believe is the rule that applies. so if half note gets 1 beat the 16th note would get 1/8 of a beat..so that leaves you 1 7/8 + 1/8 = 2. I believe this is correct as written.

[Soubasse]

^ I'll second that. A double dot would have left a quaver rest at the end of the bar. Each successive dot, .. err, "dots" the previous dot if that makes sense. So in the notated example:
Minim + 1 dot = Minim + Crotchet.
Minim + 2 dots = Minim + Crotchet + Quaver.
Minim + 3 dots = Minim + Crotchet + Quaver + Semiquaver.

At first I thought it may have been from the recently discussed Liszt Ad Nos but after a rapid perusal, I see that it's not. I see a snippet of German on the score so my detective work continues (it's not the Reubke either ... hmmm)

Matt

(EDIT: Aha - and it's probably not an organ piece anyway since the barline appears to extend lower than the bottom stave in that excerpt, unless it's from one of those composers who saw fit to confuse their players further by splitting a right hand or left hand part onto two staves. The thlot plickens ... )

[Contratrombone64]

here's more of a clue ...