Part 3 (1/2)

Thus _e.g._, ”great G” (written simply G), is the G represented by the first line of the ba.s.s staff. Small A (written a), is represented by the fifth line of the ba.s.s staff. Two-lined G, (written [2-lined g symbol]), is represented by the s.p.a.ce above the fifth line, treble staff.

Three-lined C, (written [3-lined c symbol]), is represented by the second added line above the treble staff, etc. The _one-lined octave_ may be described as the octave from _middle C_ to the B represented by the third line of the treble staff, and any tone within that octave is referred to as ”one-lined.” Thus--_one-lined_ D, _one-lined_ G, etc.

In scientific works on acoustics, etc., the pitches in the sub octave (or sub-contra octave as it is often called) are referred to as C_2, D_2, E_2, etc.; those in the contra octave as C_1, D_1, etc.; in the great octave, as c^1, d^1, etc.; in the small octave as c^2, d^2, etc.

CHAPTER V

ABBREVIATIONS, SIGNS, ETC., (_Continued_)

49. _A dot after a note_ shows that the value of the note is to be half again as great as it would be without the dot, _i.e._, the value is to be three-halves that of the original note.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

50. _When two dots follow the note_ the second dot adds half as much as the first dot has added, _i.e._, the entire value is seven-fourths that of the original note.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

51. _When three dots follow the note_ the third dot adds one-half the value added by the second, _i.e._, the entire value of the triple-dotted note is fifteen-eighths that of the original note.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

52. _A dot over or under a note_ is called the _staccato mark_ and indicates that the tone is to be sounded and then instantly released.

[Ill.u.s.tration] In music for organ and for some other instruments the staccato note is sometimes interpreted differently, this depending on the character of the instrument.

On stringed instruments of the violin family the staccato effect is usually secured by a long, rapid stroke of the bow for each tone; in the case of harp and drum the hand is quickly brought in contact with the vibrating body, thus stopping the tone instantly. On the organ the tone is often prolonged to one-half the value of the printed note before the keys are released.

53. _The wedge-shaped dash over the note_ (staccatissimo) was formerly employed to indicate a tone still more detached than that indicated by the dot, but this sign is really superfluous, and is seldom used at present. [Ill.u.s.tration]

54. _A tie_ is a curved line connecting the heads of two notes that call for the same tone. It indicates that they are to be sounded as one tone having a duration equal to the combined value of both notes. _E.g._, a half-note tied to a quarter-note would indicate a tone equal in duration-length to that shown by a dotted half-note; two half-notes tied would indicate a tone equal in duration to that shown by a whole-note.

(See examples under Sections 49, 50, and 51).

Fig. 30 ill.u.s.trates the more common variety of tie, while Fig. 31 shows an example of the _enharmonic[10] tie_.

[Footnote 10: For definition of enharmonic see p. 10, Sec. 27.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 30.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 31.]

55. The _slur_ is used in so many different ways that it is impossible to give a general definition. It consists of a curved line, sometimes very short (in which case it looks like the tie), but sometimes very long, connecting ten, fifteen, or more notes. Some of the more common uses of the slur are:

A. _To indicate legato_ (sustained or connected) _tones_, as contrasted with staccato (detached) ones.

In violin music this implies playing all tones thus slurred in one bow; in music for the voice and for wind instruments it implies singing or playing them in one breath.

B. _As a phrase-mark_, in the interpretation of which the first tone of the phrase is often accented slightly, and the last one shortened in value.

This interpretation of the phrase is especially common when the phrase is short (as in the two-note phrase), and when the tones const.i.tuting the phrase are of short duration, _e.g._, the phrase given in Fig. 32 would be played approximately as written in Fig. 33.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 32.]