[Dixielandjazz] RE: cut time

[Ittzés Tamás]

 In 'cut time' (usually represented by a large capital
> letter 'C' with a vertical bar through it), the half-note also gets
> the beat.
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I have never heard the expression 'cut time' for this. It is interesting for
me as a non-native English speaker (rather only writer in the past two
years). It might be interesting to know for thsoe of you who are not
familiar with this part of music history that in mediavel ages number 3
meant total perfection and wholeness because of the Holy Trinity and the
sign of circle (which is perfect and a whole in itself) was used for it.
Therefore in music 3/4 (well, it's more appropriate to say: 3 beats linked
together) was perfect. It is called 'perfect time' by music theorists
dealing with mediavel and early renaissance music so it's a theoretical
term. Thus 'imperfect time' means that the number of beats in the bar is
even. And a semi circle (or capital C) was the sign used for it. Then the
capital C became the sign of 4/4 and the 'capital
C with a vertical bar through it' (as Dan Augustine put it) became the sign
for 2/2. It really means 'imperfect time' with 2 beats in one bar.

(I hope, this was clear - it's interesting to know, I think.)

Tamas
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Tamas ITTZES - violin teacher, ragtime pianist, manager
Kodaly School, Bohem Ragtime Jazzband, Kecskemet Jazz Foundation
Address: Kecskemet-Hetenyegyhaza H-6044, Hullam u. 14.
Mailing address: Kecskemet H-6001, Pf. 652.
Cellular phone: +36(20)960-7169, Tel./Fax: +36(76)472-438
E-mails: tamas at bohemragtime.com, bohem at mail.datanet.hu
Website: http://www.bohemragtime.com/
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