C. Sixteenth Notes
Dividing the Beat Division: Sixteenth Notes
In this chapter, we explore sixteenth notes at the level of the beat subdivision. Since the focus of Chapter 2 is compound-meter dotted-quarter-note time signatures, we now have the opportunity to encounter as many as six sixteenth notes in each dotted-quarter-note beat. Beaming is helpful here, as it typically groups sixteenth notes into beat-long segments. As with sixteenth notes in quarter-note-beat time signatures, the exception to this is in broken-beam vocal notation. In this case, other rhythmic and notational clues hint at the exact location of sixteenth notes within each beat and measure.
There are two main challenges in navigating music with the beat subdivision in compound meter. First is the issue of tempo: with as many as six notes to articulate (or sing, or play, etc.) in each beat, tempo can quickly become unmanageable. As with Chapter 1D, it is strongly recommended to practice below the notated tempo to ensure evenness and accuracy. The second issue is becoming disoriented within the measure, particularly with 9/8 and 12/8. (Remember, there may be as many as 24 sixteenth notes in a measure of 12/8. That’s 50% more than you might have encountered in a measure of 4/4.) Faster tempos will help you more easily feel and conduct the larger beat grouping. Both issues can be resolved by striking an appropriate balance between them, performing each excerpt neither fast nor too slow.
Exercise 2C-1: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Clarinet Concerto, K. 622, Movement 3
Exercise 2C-2: Rebecca Clarke, Viola Sonata, Movement 2
Exercise 2C-3: Felix Draeseke, Little Suite for English Horn and Piano, Op. 87, Movement 2
Exercise 2C-4: Felix Draeseke, Little Suite for English Horn and Piano, Op. 87, Movement 2
Exercise 2C-5: Georg Philipp Telemann, Die Ehre des herrlichen Schöpfers zu melden, TWV 1:334, Movement 3, “Singet Gott in eurem Herzen!”
Exercise 2C-6: Frédéric Chopin, Nocturnes, Op. 9, Number 2
Exercise 2C-7: Ludwig van Beethoven, Symphony Number 6 in F major, “Pastoral,” Op. 68, Movement 2
Exercise 2C-8: George Frideric Handel, Recorder Sonata in F major, HWV 369, Movement 3
Exercise 2C-9: Darius Milhaud, Catalogue de fleurs, Op. 60, Number 5, Les Crocus
Exercise 2C-10: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Symphony Number 4 in F minor, Op. 36, Movement 1
Exercise 2C-11: Amy Beach, Songs of the Sea, Op. 10, Number 1, “A Canadian Boat Song”
