From Brad Shelton Sent Wed, Jul 21st 1999, 17:45
From Brad Shelton Sent Wed, Jul 21st 1999, 17:45
Better late than never: xxxxxxxxxx@xxx.xxx wrote: > >there's very little "true" 3/4 outside of Classical music. >most of the 3/4/waltz-time that you hear in pop or dance is really 6/12. >if you listen, the phrasing isn't classic waltz (ONE-two-three; >ONE-two-three). >it's more like: >ONE-two-three-four-five-six-SEVEN-eight-nine-ten-eleven-twelve. > >there's a big difference. You may be right about the difference in phrasing and feel, but the idea of calling something "true" 3/4 based upon its rythm or feel is inaccurate. Time signature (of which 3/4 is an example) has no more definite connection to the phrasing of a piece than it does other aspects (tempo for example). As a result any piece regardless of rythm or phrasing can be notated in any time signature. Granted, you don't expect something like a Cocteau Twins waltz (to borrow an example below) to be notated in 23/8, but it could be, and it would sound exactly the same as if it was notated in a more conventional 3/4 or 6/8 time signature. >even the few waltzy pieces that surface (like some early Cocteau Twins >numbers or Chapterhouse's "Then We'll Rise") are really in 6/12. 6/12 would mean that there are 6 beats per measure, with the 12th note getting the beat. Why not make it 6/8 and have the familiar 8th note getting the beat? I'm not sure I've ever seen a 12th note. =) Of course you can tell if a piece is generally in '3' or '4' by listening to it. But you really can't distinguish between 3/4, 6/8, or yes even something like 6/12, unless you look at the sheet music, nor is there any need to unless you're trying to read said sheet music. Cheers, Brad