List of musical works in unusual time signatures

Listed here are musical compositions or pieces in Western music that have unusual time signatures. "Unusual" is here defined to be

any time signature other than simple time signatures with top numerals of 2, 3, or 4 and bottom numerals of 2, 4, or 8, and compound time signatures with top numerals of 6, 9, or 12 and bottom numerals 4, 8, or 16.[1]

The conventions of musical notation typically allow for more than one written representation of a particular piece. The chosen time signature largely depends upon musical context, personal taste of the composer or transcriber, and the graphic layout on the written page. Frequently, published editions were written in a specific time signature to signify visually tempo for slow movements in symphonies, sonatas, and concerti. The Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp minor "Quasi una fantasia", Op. 27, No. 2, by Ludwig van Beethoven, popularly known as the Moonlight Sonata, is an example of this: although the first movement is relatively slow, the predominant rhythm is that of triplet eighth notes (quavers), whereas in the second movement the basic tempo is faster but Beethoven notates the music in quarter notes (crotchets) and half notes (minims), giving a visual clue to the nature of the phrasing. A reworking of the first movement could place the meter as 12/8 and still convey the same rhythm, phrasing, and tempo. Similarly, a reworking of the 2nd movement could place it in 3/8 instead of 3/4 without destroying the phrasing.[2] More to the point of the present article, a perfectly consistent unusual metrical pattern may be notated in a more familiar time signature that does not correspond to it. For example, the Passacaglia from Britten's opera Peter Grimes consists of variations over a recurring bass line eleven beats in length, but is notated in ordinary 4/4 time, with each variation lasting 2¾ bars, and therefore commencing each time one crotchet earlier than the preceding one.[3]

These examples are grouped by time signature, and listed alphabetically by title.

Contents

⅔/2 and ⅔/4

Partially in ⅔/2 or ⅔/4

⅗/4

Partially in ⅗/4

⅘/4

Partially in ⅘/4

4/3/2 or 4/3/4

Partially in 4/3/2 or 4/3/4

1/1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, or 1/16

Partially in 1/1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, or 1/16

2/1

Partially in 2/1

2½/4

Partially in 2½/4

3/32

3½/4

Partially in 3½/4

32/2/4

3⅔/4

4½/4

Partially in 4½/4

5/1, 5/2, 5/4, or 5/8

See Quintuple meter.

5½/4

Partially in 5½/4

6/2

Partially in 6/2

7/4, 7/8, or 7/16

See Septuple meter

8/8 (unevenly grouped)

8/4

Partially in 8/4

9/8 (not ordinary triple-compound)

Partially in 9/8, 9/4, or 9/2

10/4, 10/8 or 10/16

Partially in 10/4, 10/8 or 10/16

11/4 or 11/8

Partially in 11/4 or 11/8

13/4 or 13/8

Partially in 13/4 or 13/8

15/8 or 15/16

Other than compound Quintuple meter (which see).

Partially in 15/4, 15/8, or 15/16

Apart from examples in compound quintuple meter:

17/4 or 17/8

Partially in 17/4 or 17/8

18/8 or 18/16

19/4, 19/8, or 19/16

20/4 or 20/8

Partially in 20/4 or 20/8

21/4, 21/16, or 21/32

See also: Septuple meter

Partially in 21/4, 21/16, or 21/32

22/8

24/1 or 24/16

25/8 or 25/16

32/8

Partially in 32/8

33/8

34/8

Partially in 34/8

42/8

Partially in 42/8

59/48

Partially in 59/48

87/8

Partially in 87/8

142/8

Partially in 142/8

Unusual time signature combinations

Unspecified time signatures

See also

Notes and references

  1. ^ Ian Waugh first lists 2/2, 2/4, 2/8, 3/2, 3/4, 3/8, 4/2, 4/4, 4/8, 6/4, 6/8, 6/16, 9/4, 9/8, 9/16, 12/4, 12/8, and 12/16 (Waugh 2003, 76), then says "we've listed all the popular time signatures" (Waugh 2003, 77).
  2. ^ Ted Ross, The Art of Music Engraving and Processing: A Complete Manual, Reference and Text Book on Preparing Music for Reproduction and Print, 3rd edition, revised (Miami: Hansen Books; Santa Rosa, CA: NPC Imaging/Shattinger International Music Corporation, 2001),.
  3. ^ Britten 1945b.
  4. ^ Boulez 1957, 19–20.
  5. ^ Nilsson 1958, 10 & 12; Read 1964, 172.
  6. ^ Nilsson 1958, 10; Read 1964, 172.
  7. ^ Nilsson 1958, 11; Read 1964, 172.
  8. ^ Boulez 1957, 18.
  9. ^ Nilsson 1958, 8; Read 1964, 172.
  10. ^ Copland 1945, 56–59.
  11. ^ Read 1964, 158.
  12. ^ Nilsson 1958, 3–15.
  13. ^ Borodin [n.d., ca. 1920], 51–94. IMSLP scans available.
  14. ^ Johann Bach (1985). Hans Bischoff. ed. Six Partitas and Overture in French Style. Alfred Music Publishing. p. 92. ISBN 9780769286044. http://books.google.com/?id=_M8RUaKmwYAC&pg=PT84. 
  15. ^ Read 1964, 158.
  16. ^ Read 1964, 158.
  17. ^ Read 1964, 170.
  18. ^ Telemann 1728, 32; Telemann 1970, 13; Zohn 2004, 247: "The ‘Lilliputsche Chaconne’ is anything but stately as it flashes by (at least on the page) in a blur of demisemiquavers in 3/32 time. . . ."
  19. ^ Read 1964, 170.
  20. ^ Read 1964, 170.
  21. ^ Telemann 1728, 40; Zohn 2004, 247: "The ‘Reverie der Laputier, nebst ihren Aufweckern’ . . . teases the reader with a nonsensical time signature, 32/2/4, in an apparent allusion to the Laputians’ love for, and incompetence in, mathematics." Dietz Degan, the editor of Telemann 1970, transcribes this piece simply in 2/2.
  22. ^ Strait 2000, 56.
  23. ^ Read 1964, 170.
  24. ^ Read 1964, 170.
  25. ^ Read 1964, 170.
  26. ^ Read 1964, 170.
  27. ^ Ginastera 1946, 1:12–13.
  28. ^ Barber 1943, 11–12.
  29. ^ Bartók 1940, 6:45–48.
  30. ^ Bartók 1940, 6:51–55.
  31. ^ Britten 1946, 14–15.
  32. ^ Holst 1977, 4–6, 18–19, 23–24, 27–30.
  33. ^ Page 1989.
  34. ^ Bartók 1940, 6:35–38.
  35. ^ Bartók 1940, 6:48–50.
  36. ^ Seconds Out Songbook 1978 Wise Publications
  37. ^ Dryden, Ken. "Blue Rondo a la Turk", Allmusic: "unusual time signature of 9/8".
  38. ^ Under the Iron Sea Songbook 2006 Wise Publication, p.52
  39. ^ Fujita et al. 1993.
  40. ^ Ginastera 1955, 17–20.
  41. ^ a b c Odd time signatures demonstration by Mike Portnoy
  42. ^ a b c d Pandora presents Meters & Time Signatures.
  43. ^ Eddie 2007, 62.
  44. ^ Evan Banks, "Humming the Bassline: Just Like You Imagined. American Observer (29 September 2009).
  45. ^ The Best of Yanni; 11 selections from his top recordings. Hal Leonard Publishing. 1993. p. 16. 
  46. ^ John J. Wood, Eric Nay and Ihor Slabicky, "The Eleven and Other Rhythmic Oddities (Grateful Dead)", from the Grateful Dead FAQ; Kevin Seal and Adam Blum, "Pandora Presents . . . Meters & Time Signatures"
  47. ^ Liner notes to The Mason Williams Phonograph Record Warner Brothers LP, WS 1729. Burbank: Warner Brothers-Seven Arts Records, 1968.
  48. ^ Britten 1946, 14.
  49. ^ Bars 2–5 are in 10/8 time (Stravinsky 1958, 52).
  50. ^ Uncommon Time - Television Tropes & Idioms, "[1]"; David Kaplowitz's Odd Time Page, "[2]"
  51. ^ Score on scribd
  52. ^ Le Jeune 1951–59, 2:85–88.
  53. ^ Lindsay Planer, "Live/Dead", Allmusic: "instrumental rhythmic excursion titled "The Eleven" after the jam's tricky time signature".
  54. ^ Howard Brubeck (ed.), Dave Brubeck Deluxe Piano Album, (San Francisco: Derry Music Co., 1965), pp. 22-28.
  55. ^ Villa-Lobos 1969, 3–18.
  56. ^ J. A. Fuller Maitland and W. Barclay Squire (eds.), The Fitzwilliam Virginal Book, vol. 2 (Leipzig: Breitkopf und Härtel, 1899; reprinted New York: Dover Publications, Inc., 1963), 34–39.
  57. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Macan 1997, 48.
  58. ^ http://imslp.info/files/imglnks/usimg/9/9d/IMSLP15483-Stanchinksy_-_Piano_Sonata_No.2.pdf Piano Sonata No. 2 by Alexei Stanchinsky at the International Music Score Library Project
  59. ^ Mark Feldman 2000.
  60. ^ Primus Anthology: A thru N: For guitar and bass / Primus, transcribed by Jeff Jacobsen (New York: Cherry Lane, 2000), 17–20.
  61. ^ Nilsson 1958, 7.
  62. ^ a b Reynish, Tim. "Derek Bourgeois: An Assessment of his music in Two Parts". http://www.timreynish.com/repcompbourgeois1.html. Retrieved November 8, 2009. 
  63. ^ a b "Pops Concert Program Notes". Howard Performing Arts Center, Andrews University. March 8, 2008. http://www.howard.andrews.edu/news/113/. Retrieved November 8, 2009. 
  64. ^ Peters, Stephen (1999). What a Long, Strange Trip: The Stories Behind Every Song 1965-1995. Thunder's Mouth Press. ISBN 1560252332.  p. 51.
  65. ^ Perkins 2000, 1:18.
  66. ^ FROMUZ - "Overlook" booklet, 8–9.
  67. ^ http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=5195
  68. ^ Andrew Lloyd Webber, T. S. Eliot - "Cats" Hal Leonard (HL00359466), ISBN 0881884472
  69. ^ Genesis 2001, .
  70. ^ Davison and Apel 1974, 9; Pöhlmann and West 2001, 96–99.
  71. ^ Perkins 2000, 2:18–40 (score).
  72. ^ Jeffes, Arthur (2010-09-08), BBC Proms programme notes, 2010 season concert 73, BBC 
  73. ^ Read 1964, 157.
  74. ^ Read 1964, 157.
  75. ^ Read 1964, 157.
  76. ^ Read 1964, 157.
  77. ^ Oldfield, Mike (2007). Changeling - Autobiography of Mike Oldfield. Virgin Books. p. 111. ISBN 978-1852273811. 
  78. ^ http://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtdVPE.asp?ppn=MN0035333#
  79. ^ http://www.bjork.fr/Crystalline
  80. ^ http://www.bjork.fr/Hollow
  81. ^ http://www.bjork.fr/Moon
  82. ^ a b John McLaughlin, John McLaughlin and the Mahavishnu Orchestra: John McLaughlin's Scores to 28 Classic Recordings (Van Nuys: Alfred Publishing, 2006). ISBN 0739042556
  83. ^ Prokofiev 1955, 1:9–14.
  84. ^ Bach 1968, 98–99.
  85. ^ Read 1964, 159.
  86. ^ Bernhard Castiglioni Gavin Harrison Part II (video). Videos and Pictures from the Musikmesse Frankfurt 2007. www.drummerworld.com (Accessed 6 June 2010).
  87. ^ Perkins 2000, 2:1–17 (score).
  88. ^ Fenlon 2002, 112–13.
  89. ^ a b Le Jeune 1951–59, 1:32–33.
  90. ^ Read 1964, 160; Stravinsky 1958, 29.
  91. ^ Vinnie Colaiuta, interviewed by Robyn Flans. Modern Drummer (November 1982). http://www.vinniecolaiuta.com/articles/moderndrummer82.aspx.
  92. ^ Stockhausen 1967, 1, 6, and 7.
  93. ^ Read 1964, 156.
  94. ^ Interview with Lyle Mays by Mike Brannon for allaboutjazz.com, May 2001. "'First Circle' does have a little different kind of time signature. We called it 22/8…You could think of it as a bar of 12 and a bar of 10."
  95. ^ Telemann 1728, 37; Telemann 1970, 14–15; Zohn 2004, 247: "the ‘Brobdingnagische Gigue’—no doubt inspired by the English jig Gulliver plays with great effort on a sixty-foot spinet—is danced in giant steps, trudging along in twenty-four semibreves to the bar."
  96. ^ Read 1964, 158.
  97. ^ Fenlon 2002, 90 & 102–106.
  98. ^ Fenlon 2002, 40.
  99. ^ Fenlon 2002, 41; Fienberg 2004, 228–29 & 231–32.
  100. ^ Stockhausen 1967, 7.
  101. ^ a b c Stockhausen 1967, 1.
  102. ^ Gilmore 1994, 4.
  103. ^ Pamela Winters, "Richard Thompson: Plunging the Knife in Deeper", Paste Magazine (9 June 2003).
  104. ^ Ben Folds-"Songs for Silverman, piano/vocal transcriptions Hal Leonard Corporation.
  105. ^ "Mike Portnoy - The dance of eternity time signature & solo 1". http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7jikeIyKaE. Retrieved 2009-02-28. 
  106. ^ Guitar April 1998, ""Diary of a madman"". Transcribed by Jeff Jacobson.
  107. ^ Allcock, Maartin, ed (1998). Fairport Convention Songbook 2. Woodworm Music. pp. 56–59. 
  108. ^ Primus Anthology:A thru N: For guitar and bass / Primus; transcr. by Jeff Jacobsen. - New York: Cherry Lane; , pag. 21. 2000.
  109. ^ "A Headache And A Sixty-Fourth". http://www.ronjarzombek.com/headache.html. Retrieved 2010-08-21. 
  110. ^ "The meters of these three measures are 11/8, 4/4, and 7/8, respectively. The special effect of running even eighth notes accented as if triplets against the grain of the underlying backbeat is carried to a point more reminiscent of Stravinsky than of the Beatles" (Alan Pollack's 'Notes On' series, no. 183).
  111. ^ "Hey Ya! - Outkast". Rolling Stone. 2004-12-09. http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/6596025/hey_ya. Retrieved 2008-03-23. 
  112. ^ Sheet music for "Hey Ya!" Hal Leonard Corporation, 2003.
  113. ^ Sheet music, published by New Hidden Valley Music and Casa David, copyright 1966
  114. ^ Guitar School March 1994, ""Geddy Lee Bass Clinic""
  115. ^ Allcock, Maartin, ed (1998). Fairport Convention Songbook 2. Woodworm Music. p. 81. 
  116. ^ "The Bad Plus – Prog CD Review". Odd Time Obsessed. 2008-01-27. http://oddtimeobsessed.blogspot.com/2008/01/bad-plus-prog-cd-review.html. Retrieved 2009-01-18. 
  117. ^ Shiraki, Scott; Bradman, E.E. (May 2001). "Handy Man: How Justin Chancellor Frames Tool's Metal Madness". Bass Player: 6. http://www.basswriter.com/journalism/bpstories/Web-Chancellor.doc. Retrieved 2007-05-02. 
  118. ^ Lloyd Webber and Rice 1970.
  119. ^ Planer, Lindsay. "My Human Gets Me Blues". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/song/t2006601. Retrieved 2008-03-23. "complex time signature" 
  120. ^ Parisien, Roch. "Prize". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/album/r212815. Retrieved 2008-03-23. "unconventional time signature" 
  121. ^ Macan 1997, 48.
  122. ^ Smith, Michael B.. "Life Before Insanity". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/album/r464933. Retrieved 2008-03-23. "oddball time signature" 

Bibliography