What do the brackets (around the first note of the second bar in the bass clef) in the image shown below mean?
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2The given answers are surely correct. But could we also ask what sense it makes a) to notate it b) to put the paranthesis as the left hand has nothing else to fo?– Albrecht HügliCommented Mar 3, 2019 at 16:07
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3It makes sense to notate it, when two independent voices converge temporarily on the same pitch. The notation indicates that the same note "belongs" equally to both voices even if it is only played by one hand. For example, I have seen the same notation in an edition of Bach two-part inventions (invention #8 in particular)– wrschneiderCommented Mar 4, 2019 at 2:57
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1Sometimes it can be more practical to use the other hand to play the overlapping notes, so the note is written in both staves– Ate SomebitsCommented Jul 10 at 18:01
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3 Answers
My guess (I cannot really see the notes for the upper voice): The same note is already played by your right hand. Both voices share the same note but it obviously only needs to be played once. That's why it is written in brackets for the left hand.
Your image is clipped, but I'm guessing the top note is two ledger lines below the staff?
That would make the right hand note A. The A in parenthesis is telling you it's the same note as the left hand top staff line. So it's an optional way to play it, using the left hand instead of the right.
If I am not wrong, that's Over the Rainbow, right? Here each hand has same note; the bracket indicates you only have to play it once.
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Looks like you were able to identify the piece from a single note and lyric — good work! Commented Jul 10 at 21:38