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I've been learning a piece called "Recreation - The Swapper" by Carlo Castellano, and when it comes to these notes, I have no idea which notes I should play on my piano. Everything I try sounds just weird.

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From what I've understood from my research, the symbol " ♮ " means that no matter what has been said, this cancels every particular thing about the note (sharps and flats). It looks like I have to play G and Gsharp. May anyone confirm that, or tell me if I'm reading this sheet wrong?

Sorry for my bad english :)

4 Answers 4

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You are having no trouble reading.

In the video links below, Carlo Castellano is playing his own composition, the sheet music of which appears in a link in the description to that video. (There is a SoundCloud link, as well.) A few sections are worth listening and viewing:

0:44–0:51, mm. 21–22.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/zgcX64aK3Vc?version=3&start=44&end=51

Carlo Castellano, “Recreation,” mm. 21–22

1:19–1:23, m. 37.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/zgcX64aK3Vc?version=3&start=79&end=83

Carlo Castellano, “Recreation,” m. 37

1:36–1:41, mm. 45–46.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/zgcX64aK3Vc?version=3&start=96&end=101

Carlo Castellano, “Recreation,” mm. 45–46

2:10–2:15, mm. 61–62.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/zgcX64aK3Vc?version=3&start=130&end=135

Carlo Castellano, “Recreation,” mm. 61–62

Castellano plays this pattern four times. Already, it becomes less likely that he has made the same transcription error this many times. It sounds somewhat strange, doesn’t it, G♯ and G♮ appearing in the same measure? Nonetheless, it is accurate. If you had any doubts about the sheet music, you can see his fingers play it in measure 37.

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I listened to the piece here:

Measures 21 and 22 definitely have some dissonance. I don't think there's any typo. The final two notes in the bass clef are G-natural and low G-sharp, as you suggest. It's supposed to sound dissonant. The trick is to play the phrase smoothly and with the same feeling as in previous measures.

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The second G# has a 'courtesy accidental', simply written in order to avoid any confusion (because of the previous G natural).

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    What 'previous G natural'? The only other one is in treble clef, so shouldn't be confused. An accidental only refers to the same pitch and name notes in the same octave as they are written. Unless you've seen a previous bar...
    – Tim
    May 10, 2018 at 15:15
  • The note directly before the final G# in b. 21 is a G natural. The natural symbol there is also a courtesy accidental. It, like the following # symbol are only there for clarification. The rule you mention about accidentals is understood, but sometimes composers prefer to err on the side of caution.
    – Jomiddnz
    May 10, 2018 at 23:22
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If that bottom G was supposed to be G#, there would be no need to use another accidental - it's already sharp from the last one. Looks like a typo, and the sharp should be a natural. Giving two simple G naturals.

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  • So why is there a sharp if it should be natural?
    – Nark
    May 9, 2018 at 22:34
  • A typo is a mistake made when writing something out. I think that sharp ought to be a natural sign.
    – Tim
    May 9, 2018 at 22:37
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    Both the natural sign and the second sharp sign are "courtesy" indications, just to reassure the performer that the dissonance was intended. May 10, 2018 at 15:23

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