Since we're comparing music with weird time signatures: Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition, "Promenade" section, he wrote in 11/4 time, but it's usually published as alternating 5/4 and 6/4 because, presumably, performers find that less strange. Mussorgsky is notorious for having spent most of his life in a drunken stupor, including, or perhaps especially, when composing.
he wrote in 11/4 time, but it's usually published as alternating 5/4 and 6/4 because, presumably, performers find that less strange
Oh god. I hate it when editors do this.
I can't think of any musicians who find this any easier -- quiet the contrary. I think this practice originated in the early days of typeset music, when there were letter blocks available for 5/4 and 6/4 but not for 11/4.
Whichever way it's printed, we just pencil "3 + 2 + 3 + 3" into our parts anyway...
The story I heard is that Mossorgsky wrote it that way because he walked with a limp. He wrote his limp into the time signature. This is probably an urban myth, as I can't seem to find any verification of it on line in a quick search.
Comments
Since we're comparing music with weird time signatures: Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition, "Promenade" section, he wrote in 11/4 time, but it's usually published as alternating 5/4 and 6/4 because, presumably, performers find that less strange. Mussorgsky is notorious for having spent most of his life in a drunken stupor, including, or perhaps especially, when composing.
he wrote in 11/4 time, but it's usually published as alternating 5/4 and 6/4 because, presumably, performers find that less strange
Oh god. I hate it when editors do this.
I can't think of any musicians who find this any easier -- quiet the contrary. I think this practice originated in the early days of typeset music, when there were letter blocks available for 5/4 and 6/4 but not for 11/4.
Whichever way it's printed, we just pencil "3 + 2 + 3 + 3" into our parts anyway...
The story I heard is that Mossorgsky wrote it that way because he walked with a limp. He wrote his limp into the time signature. This is probably an urban myth, as I can't seem to find any verification of it on line in a quick search.