26
votes
Accepted
What is this quadruple-dotted X above the staff?
Just look a bit further on the page: right below that staff there are two footnotes with the same symbol:
As the comment from 小太郎 explains, the ※ symbol is a reference mark used in Chinese, Japanese ...
- 6,382
12
votes
Why do conductors use transposed scores vs. concert scores?
Why do conductors use transposed scores vs. concert scores?
They don't always. They use what's available. Some pieces are published as transposing scores and others as concert pitch scores. I'm ...
- 20.6k
11
votes
What does this flat symbol over a turn mean?
Accidental written above the turn symbol affects the upper note of the turn (which indeed is the first one for a regular turn), so (assuming the key of C major an no accidentals earlier in this ...
- 16k
7
votes
Strange cymbals notation in The Free Lance March
Note: this answer uses the ABC notation to show some examples, but there may be some browser issues (like this); try to force refresh the page (if you're on Chrome, use CtrlF5 or ⌘⇧R on macOS) to see ...
- 6,382
7
votes
Why do conductors use transposed scores vs. concert scores?
In this way, the conductor is looking at each individual part in the same way that instrument sees it. For a trained/experienced conductor, the transpositions become second nature.
- 82.8k
4
votes
Why is my bass clef inverted?
That's common in old scores. I am quite sure I saw it on 19th century orchestra scores, although I cannot state one in particular.
Wikipedia has the answer.
Check Wikipedia's page on clefs, there is a ...
3
votes
New to reading kit music - questions about technique
As a percussionist and drum set player, There's some stuff that's just 'wrong' with the sheet music in front of you (using normal as opposed to X noteheads for cymbals, along with your 3 hand ...
- 31
3
votes
Question Regarding the Meaning of Certain Symbols
That would be accordion music, actually. These are indications on which chord to use: m = minor, M = major, 7 = dominant 7th. There's also a diminished chord, but I don't remember the symbol for that ...
- 31
3
votes
Accepted
Paganini's Cantabile for violin and guitar in D - clarification on the notation
Those are fermatas, and they indicate to hold the note longer than the given duration. There’s no defined length, but 1.5x the given duration is a frequently suggested rule of thumb. They create a ...
- 82.8k
3
votes
What is this notation that looks like a hat above the stave?
It's a 2-beat, minim rest, aka half rest. We're used to seeing it within the stave.
I imagine a minim mouse sitting on the line to help me distinguish the rest from a whole (four beat) rest which ...
- 11.4k
3
votes
How to make actually minimal page breaking in LilyPond
Spacing is an incredibly complex thing. If you look at your example you will see that it fits only because by a chance of luck the Lyrics do not collide with the stems above, so the systems can ...
- 18.8k
3
votes
Strange cymbals notation in The Free Lance March
The cymbal should be damped at the time of the first rest following the given note duration. "Ch." is used when the cymbal note is followed by another cymbal note rather than a rest, and the ...
- 82.8k
3
votes
2
votes
What does this bowing marking signify?
It's a normal down-bow. For some reason the publisher, Durand, seems to invert down-bow markings in certain scores.
- 19.6k
2
votes
questions about some direction markings in Chopin's op 28 no 6, prelude in B minor
With the caveat that in Chopin most all markings are open to the performer's interpretation ...
Sotto voce applies to the right hand, which should be quiet, as the left hand has the melody.
The ...
- 82.8k
2
votes
Strange cymbals notation in The Free Lance March
Assuming you're using a pair of cymbals. Where there is a tie across, crash on the first dot, let ring, then crash again on the tied note, thus giving an accent.
Where there is simply a note with a ...
- 190k
2
votes
Strange cymbals notation in The Free Lance March
The part doesn't make a lot of sense, and it's nothing like what Sousa wrote. It's only a march and you can very probably get away with playing it something like Sousa's original (listen to the way ...
- 19.6k
2
votes
What is a "D-10" Chord?
He doubtless meant D(♭10). ('-' can mean 'minor' or 'flattened' in Chord Symbols.) That's a D triad plus a minor 3rd. Usually has the 7th as well. Sometimes called the 'Hendrix' chord, or the '...
- 90.6k
1
vote
What is a "D-10" Chord?
McCartney plays piano himself on the recording, and since he doesn't read music, he probably didn't bother to name the chord, a D chord with adjacent major and minor thirds (F/F#). Whoever transcribed ...
- 19.6k
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