Polyphonic music of the 15th century (I think)

[Contratrombone64]

Now these are lovely - especially when played on ear splitting reeds.

[Mark B]

What are those symbols that look like breves? Notes? I realised they must be notes not rests from the final bar. How should they be played?

Mark

[Flute'n'Pedal]

Those symbols are double breve notes. They should be held, in this case, for the full duration of the bar.

[Flute'n'Pedal]

P.S. I was referring to the horisontal blocks. The vertical blocks are double breve rests.

[Contratrombone64]

They are indeed breve - as the time signature is in 4 / 2

[Mark B]

They sure do look wierd!

[Contratrombone64]

Not weird to late Renaissance or Baroque eyes, that's for sure.

[Mark B]

Oh... that explains it, then: mine are 20th century eyes!!!

[Contratrombone64]

Mark, (kefinti), standardised musical nomenclature was by no means definable. It's interesting to look at digital collections of handwritten music (take J.S. Bach for example) to see their "soul" in their writting. Of course, all composers were hugely distinctive and individual, this also comes across to incredibly in their handwritting. I have a manuscript copy of Sir Arthur Sullivan's seldom performed oratorio The Prodigal Son his manuscript is incredible to read, so clear and neat (quite unlike Beethoven for example).

[Mark B]

Hi Contratrombone64,

It seems like you have or have had a close relationship with Maltese! In answer to your "Kif Int?", I can reply, "Tajjeb grazzi, u int?" (Actually, the way you expressed it, makes the phrase more Arabic than Maltese, though we do use that slant in our language too, having similar Semitic roots as Arabic does).

I thank you for your comments. I am an amateur in as far as music is concerned and only get to see printed manuscripts and rarely any handwritten original scripts unless samples are included in the notes within published material.