New answers tagged metronomes
5
votes
Were there any automatic timekeeping devices prior to the metronome used for setting and maintaining tempo (BPM) and pulse?
When music is played for dancing, usually the musicians have a pretty good sense of the tempo the dancers will want. The optimum dancing tempo depends on the nature of the dance movements and the ...
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3
votes
Were there any automatic timekeeping devices prior to the metronome used for setting and maintaining tempo (BPM) and pulse?
The first observation that a pendulum was consistent in its rate was by Galileo in 1588. It wasn't until 1656 that a pendulum was used to control a clock. It wasn't until ~1700 that someone thought to ...
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13
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Were there any automatic timekeeping devices prior to the metronome used for setting and maintaining tempo (BPM) and pulse?
One consideration is: Asking "What did people use to keep the musical pulse steady before the technology was available" might be an anachronistic angle. Richard Taruskin talks about an "...
- 15.9k
6
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Were there any automatic timekeeping devices prior to the metronome used for setting and maintaining tempo (BPM) and pulse?
It is a simple question and the answer is yes. Thomas Mace suggested using a pendulum for specifying pulse in late 17th century. An early attempt at a timekeeping device was made by Abbas ibn Firnas ...
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