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Music Preface |
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which cancel, an accidental (sharp or flat) contained in the key signature, this accidental has been enclosed in parentheses (asor).
Exceptions will be found in "King William Was King George's Son75 "Oh, Lovely Appearance of Death," and "Trouble, Trouble."
Metrical signature and tempo
Tempo refers to the speed at which a song is sung.
Precise indications of speed have been given in terms of the metronome, at the heading of each song. Thus, J =66 indicates that there are 66 half-notes to the minute. The note-value used in the metronome mark is, in most cases, that of the denominator of the metrical signature. It represents the pulse—or foot-beat, either present or implied. The numerator of the metrical signature indicates the number of pulses per measure. Further indication of pulse is given in the length of beams connecting eighth and sixteenth notes (asin "Billy Barlow" orin "Hop Up, My
Ladies"). The eleven songs not transcribed from recordings have been given no metronome indications.
General indications of speed are expressed by the terms "Fast," "Moderately fast," "Moderate," "Moderately slow," and "Slow," placed before the metronome mark at the heading of each song. Unless otherwise indicated, the song should be understood to have been sung more or less in strict time (Tempo giusto), with regularly recurring, strongly defined pulse, and well accented. The indications "Free" and "Somewhat free" have been used to designate the tempo of songs in which a regular pulse is either (a) vague or indeterminate, or (b) established, departed from and returned to periodically throughout the stanza (rubato).
Ritetmto Abrupt change to a slower tempo
Ritardando Gradual decrease of speed
Accelerando Gradual increase of speed
A hold of indefinite length (fermata)
A hold of definite length, indicating that a second beat, of the value of the denominator of the metrical signature, should be added to the tone over which this sign appears. Thus (as in "The Wild Colonial Boy"): |
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