Double Bass Finlandia

[gprigge]

This may be obvious to everyone but me. My reading skills are lacking. The following excerpt is in 4/4 time, but it seems the notation doesn't add up to 4 beats. I'm reading it as four 1/2 notes with two flags each, which would be 1/8 notes each? If there are four 1/8 notes in the measure, the total for the measure falls two 1/4 notes short of 4/4. It all makes my head hurt. I can play it so it comes out, but I don't really understand the notation. A cellist explained it to me, but I didn't get it. My teacher is not available.

 

[bejoyous]

It's a musical shortcut to write out a measured trill. Just play C, Db, C, Db as sixteenth notes. Play one bow per bar.

 

[PaulCannon]

This may be obvious to everyone but me. My reading skills are lacking. The following excerpt is in 4/4 time, but it seems the notation doesn't add up to 4 beats. I'm reading it as four 1/2 notes with two flags each, which would be 1/8 notes each? If there are four 1/8 notes in the measure, the total for the measure falls two 1/4 notes short of 4/4. It all makes my head hurt. I can play it so it comes out, but I don't really understand the notation. A cellist explained it to me, but I didn't get it. My teacher is not available.

It's an editorial shorthand meant to save ink. The "half notes" are bound to each other with 16th flags, which adds up to eight 16th notes each, or 16 16ths per bar. It's confusing, but that's what it means.

 

[gprigge]

It's an editorial shorthand meant to save ink. The "half notes" are bound to each other with 16th flags, which adds up to eight 16th notes each, or 16 16ths per bar. It's confusing, but that's what it means.

Thanks to both of you. So, do I play four notes per bar, C Db C Db; or 16 notes per bar, CCCC DbDb CCCC DbDb?

It's a musical shortcut to write out a measured trill. Just play C, Db, C, Db as sixteenth notes. Play one bow per bar.

I'm still not clear on this. With this notation, how many notes are played in a four-beat bar? 16?

 

[PaulCannon]

Thanks to both of you. So, do I play four notes per bar, C Db C Db; or 16 notes per bar, CCCC DbDb CCCC DbDb?

The bar has 16 16th notes. It goes like this: C-Db-C-Db C-Db-C-Db C-Db-C-Db C-Db-C-Db

 

[gprigge]

The bar has 16 16th notes. It goes like this: C-Db-C-Db C-Db-C-Db C-Db-C-Db C-Db-C-Db

Thanks. I don't think I ever would have figured that one out. My teacher is out for a bit. The more knowledgeable bassists in the three-bass section haven't made it to practice the last few times so I have to fend for myself. Community orchestra can be a challenge.

 

[Mark_T]

As soon as I saw this forum topic, I knew this would be the question. It's a really obnoxious bit of notation and it's not clear - if you don't know, you probably won't figure it out by looking at it. You pretty much have to ask someone. I can't recall if this figure occurs in the cellos but in the future, it's worth checking with them at break if you see something wacky like that and don't want to interrupt the rehearsal.

Enjoy the rest of the piece! It's got some good stuff where you get to play nice and loud.