List of musical works in unusual time signatures
Listed here are musical compositions or pieces in Western music that have unusual time signatures. "Unusual" is here defined to be any time signature other than simple time signatures with top numerals of 2, 3, or 4 and bottom numerals of 2, 4, or 8, and compound time signatures with top numerals of 6, 9, or 12 and bottom numerals 4, 8, or 16.[1]
The conventions of musical notation typically allow for more than one written representation of a particular piece. The chosen time signature largely depends upon musical context, personal taste of the composer or transcriber, and the graphic layout on the written page. Frequently, published editions were written in a specific time signature to visually signify the tempo for slow movements in symphonies, sonatas, and concerti. The Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp minor "Quasi una fantasia", Op. 27, No. 2, by Ludwig van Beethoven, popularly known as the Moonlight Sonata, includes two examples: in the relatively slow first movement the predominant rhythm is in triplet eighth notes (quavers), whereas in the second movement the basic tempo is faster but the music is notated in quarter notes (crotchets) and half notes (minims), giving a visual clue to the nature of the phrasing. The first movement could be written in 12
8 and still convey the same rhythm, phrasing, and tempo. Similarly, the second movement could be notated in 3
8 instead of 3
4 without changing the phrasing.[2] More to the point of the present article, a perfectly consistent unusual metrical pattern may be notated in a more familiar time signature that does not correspond to it. For example, the Passacaglia from Britten's opera Peter Grimes consists of variations over a recurring bass line eleven beats in length, but is notated in ordinary 4
4 time, with each variation lasting 2¾ bars, and therefore commencing each time one crotchet earlier than the preceding one.[3]
These examples are grouped by time signature, and listed alphabetically by title.
3⁄5/4
Partially in 3⁄5
4
- Mädchentotenlieder, by Bo Nilsson. Bar 97 is in 3⁄5
4 time.[4]
⅔/2 and ⅔/4
Partially in ⅔
2 or ⅔
4
- "L'Artisanat furieux", third movement of Le marteau sans maître, by Pierre Boulez. Bars 24, 35, and 43 are in ⅔
4 time.[5] - Mädchentotenlieder, by Bo Nilsson. Bar 102 is in ⅔
2; bar 123 is in ⅔
4 time.[6]
4⁄5/4
Partially in 4⁄5
4
- Mädchentotenlieder, by Bo Nilsson. Bar 112 is in 4⁄5
4 time.[7]
1/1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/16, 1/32, or 1/64
Partially in 1
1, 1
2, 1
4, 1
8, 1
16, 1
32, or 1
64
- "Andantino", second movement of Alcancías by Silvestre Revueltas. Fifth bar after rehearsal 24, second bar of rehearsal 27, first bar of rehearsal 28, third bar of rehearsal 29, one bar before 31, and one bar before 32 are all 1
4.[8] - Appalachian Spring, by Aaron Copland. Third bar of rehearsal 46 and third bar of rehearsal 48 are in 1
2.[9] - "A Headache And A Sixty-Fourth", from Ron Jarzombek's album Solitarily Speaking of Theoretical Confinement, has a constant time signature pattern of 4
4 and 1
64.[10] - "Improvisation sur Mallarmé 2", from Pli selon pli by Pierre Boulez.[11]
- "Lento–Allegro molto agitato", first movement of Symphony No. 17 in G-sharp minor by Nikolay Myaskovsky, has a 1
2 signature from rehearsal numbers 2–7, 25–35, 42–47, 59–66, and 70–74.[12] - Lincolnshire Posy, Lord Melbourne by Percy Grainger uses 1
8.[13] - Mädchentotenlieder, by Bo Nilsson. Bar 11 is in 1
16 time, bar 53 is in 1
8 time, bars 20, 22–27, 33–36, 38–40, 43, 49, 51, 54, 57, 65, 76–77, 80–81, 86, 90–93, 95, 99, 103–7, 115–16, 118, 120, 122, 124, 126, 130, 134–42, 145, 153, and 158 are in 1
4 time.[14] - Metropolis Part 1: The Miracle and the Sleeper, by Dream Theater. Third bar of rehearsal R is in 1
4.[15] - "Moderato", first movement of the Piano Sonata No. 3 by Carlos Chávez, bars 13, 15, 19, 52, 54, and 58 are in 1
4 time.[16] - A Nightmare to Remember, by Dream Theater. Measure 31 is in 1
8.[17] - Petrushka by Igor Stravinsky, the bar before rehearsal 17 is in 1
4.[18] - Piano Sonata No. 5, Op. 53, by Alexander Scriabin. Bars 251 to 262 (Presto giocoso) are in 1
2.[19] - "Scherzo" (2nd Movement) from Alexander Borodin's Symphony No. 2 is in Prestissimo 1
1, except for the trio section, which is in Allegretto 6
4.[20] - "Un poco mosso", second movement of the Piano Sonata No. 3 by Carlos Chávez, bar 176 is in 1
8 time.[21] - Zeitmaße by Karlheinz Stockhausen uses 1
16.[22]
1/12
Partially in 1
12
- "Claro y conciso", fourth movement from Piano Sonata No. 3 by Carlos Chávez, b. 47, 49, 107, and 109 are in 1
12.[23]
1½/4
Partially in 1½
4
- Lincolnshire Posy, Lord Melbourne by Percy Grainger. Some parts mark this measure as 1½
4 while others mark it as 3
8. This trombone part has a bar of 1½
4 on the bottom of page 4.[24]
4/3/2 or 4/3/4
Partially in 4/3
2 or 4/3
4
- "L'Artisanat furieux", third movement of Le marteau sans maître, by Pierre Boulez. Bar 3 is in 4/3
2 time.[25] - Mädchentotenlieder, by Bo Nilsson. Bar 83 is in 4/3
4 time.[26]
2/1
- "Gigue", last movement of 6th Partita in E minor, BWV 830, by Johann Sebastian Bach.[27]
Partially in 2
1
- Five Pieces for Piano, op. 23, by Arnold Schoenberg.[11]
- "Improvisation sur Mallarmé 2", from Pli selon pli by Pierre Boulez.[11]
2/3
Partially in 2
3
2/16
- Comme le vent, first of the Douze études dans toutes les tons mineurs, Op. 39, by Charles-Valentin Alkan.[29]
- Sketch, Op. 1 No. 10, by Alexei Stanchinsky.[30][31]
2/32
Partially in 2
32
- Zeitmaße by Karlheinz Stockhausen uses 2
32.[32]
2½/4
Partially in 2½
4
- "Claro y conciso", fourth movement from Piano Sonata No. 3 by Carlos Chávez, b. 58, 61, 69–86, 88–91, 93–94, 118–19, 121–24 are in 3½
4.[33] - Lincolnshire Posy, Lord Melbourne by Percy Grainger.[34]
- Study in Sonority by Wallingford Riegger contains several 2½
4 bars.[35]
3/1
Partially in 3
1
- Symphony No. 3 (Saint-Saëns) by Camille Saint-Saëns, in two sections (a total of 21 bars) at the end of the finale.[36]
- O Fortuna from Carl Orff's Carmina Burana (first four bars).[37]
3/16
- Symphonic Studies, Étude IX (first version) by Robert Schumann.[38]
- Variations for piano, Op. 27, by Anton Webern, first movement.[39]
Partially in 3
16
- String Quartet, Op. 28, by Anton Webern: the third movement is in 3
16 from bars 40 to 41, and again from bars 44 to 51.[40]
3/32
- "Lilliputsche Chaconne", from Intrada, nebst burlesquer Suite, for two violins (the so-called "Gulliver Suite") by Georg Philipp Telemann.[41]
Partially in 3
32
- String Quartet, Op. 28, by Anton Webern: the third movement is in 3
32 from bars 28 to 37.[40] - Zeitmaße by Karlheinz Stockhausen uses 3
32.[22]
3½/4
Partially in 3½
4
- "Claro y conciso", fourth movement from Piano Sonata No. 3 by Carlos Chávez, b. 57, 67, 87, 92, 117are in 3½
4.[42] - Driftwood Suite, for piano, by Gardner Read uses 3½
4 time.[35] - Touch Piece, for piano, by Gardner Read uses 3½
4 time.[35]
32/2/4
- "Reverie der Laputier, nebst ihren Aufweckern", from Intrada, nebst burlesquer Suite, for two violins (the so-called "Gulliver Suite") by Georg Philipp Telemann.[43]
3⅔/4
4/16
- "Baile" (Dance), the first movement of Homenaje a Federico García Lorca by Silvestre Revueltas is entirely in 4/16, except for one free-rhythm bar at the beginning and two at the end.[45]
Partially in 4
16
- "Andante espressivo", second movement from Piano Sonata No. 3 in F minor, Op. 5, by Johannes Brahms (b. 37–66, 77–90).[46]
- String Quartet, Op. 28, by Anton Webern: the third movement is in 4
16 from bars 52 to 53.[40]
4½/4
Partially in 4½
4
- "The Alcotts", third movement of the Piano Sonata No. 2, Concord, Mass., 1840–1860, by Charles Ives bar 20 is in 4½/4 time.[47]
- "Claro y conciso", fourth movement from Piano Sonata No. 3 by Carlos Chávez, bar 125 is in 4½
4.[48] - Driftwood Suite, for piano, by Gardner Read uses 4½
4 time.[35] - Touch Piece, for piano, by Gardner Read uses 4½
4 time.[35]
5/1, 5/2, 5/4, 5/8, 5/16, 5/32, 5/64, or 5/128
5½/4
Partially in 5½
4
- Driftwood Suite, for piano, by Gardner Read uses 5½
4 time.[35] - Touch Piece, for piano, by Gardner Read uses 5½
4 time.[35]
6/2
Partially in 6
2
- "In the First Pentatonic Major Mode (En el 1er modo pentáfono mayor)", no. 12 from 12 American Preludes for piano (1944) by Alberto Ginastera (bar 23 in 6
2).[49] - "Molto adagio" (Adagio for Strings), second movement of Samuel Barber’s String Quartet, op. 11, bars 15 and 26 are in 6
2.[50]
6½/8
Partially in 6½
8
7/1, 7/2, 7/4, 7/8, 7/16, 7/32, 7/64, or 7/128
8/4 or 8/8
- Note: 8
4 or 8
8 may refer to an evenly divided compound duple or quadruple meter. While this is arguably extremely common in music, the notations "8
4" and "8
8" themselves are not, so all divisions of this time signature are listed here.
- "Six Dances in Bulgarian Rhythm" 4, from Béla Bartók's Mikrokosmos (no. 151), is in 3+2+3
8.[52] - "Six Dances in Bulgarian Rhythm" 6, from Béla Bartók's Mikrokosmos (no. 153), is in 3+3+2
8.[53]
Partially in 8
4, 8
8, or 8
16
- Abraham and Isaac by Igor Stravinsky. Bar 159 is in 8
16 time.[54] - "Allegro calmo senza rigore", first movement of String Quartet No. 2, op. 36 (1945), by Benjamin Britten. Bars 3 and 12 after rehearsal K are in 8
4.[55] - "Allegro molto", fourth movement of Béla Bartók's Music for Strings, Percussion, and Celesta. Bars 204, 207, 210, 213 are in 8
8.[56] - "Allegro Vivace: scorrevole e bisbigliando", the third movement of Symphony No. 3 by Peter Maxwell Davies has one bar of 8
8 before rehearsal X.[57] - "Andante tranquillo", first movement of Béla Bartók's Music for Strings, Percussion, and Celesta. Bars 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 19, 22, 26–27, 29, 38–40, 46, 53, 69, 71, 73, 75, 83, and 85 are in 8
8[58] - A Choral Fantasia, op. 51, by Gustav Holst. Bars 36–69, 142–48, 173–78, and 191–98 are in 8
4.[59] - The Cry of Anubis, for tuba and orchestra by Harrison Birtwistle. Bars 33, 36, and 45–46 are in 8
16.[60] - "Damage Control" by John Petrucci has several bars in 8
4.[61] - "De elegia prima" from Threni by Igor Stravinsky. Bars 83–84, 91, and 165 are in 8
8.[62] - Diversions, for piano (left hand) and orchestra, Op. 21, by Benjamin Britten. In Variation IV, bars 171, 175–77, 181, and 187–91 are in 8
8.[63] - The Flood by Igor Stravinsky. Bars 406, 414, 422, 427, 432, 440, and 448 are in 8
16 time, all divided 3+2+3.[64] - Histoire du soldat by Igor Stravinsky has one bar in 8
16 time, at the fourth bar following rehearsal 35, in the movement "Ragtime".[65] - "I Ejaculate Fire" by Dethklok. Bars 81, 83, 85, and 88 are in 8
4.[66] - The "Interlude" from the Requiem Canticles by Igor Stravinsky has bar 156 in 8
16 time.[67] - "Intermezzo interrotto", fourth movement of Béla Bartók's Concerto for Orchestra has three bars of 8
8 in the strings at rehearsal 75.[68] - "Lento–Adagio–Andante–Moderato–Allegretto–Poco più animato–Allegro moderato–Allegro–Allegro alla breve–Vivace", the first movement of Symphony No. 3 by Peter Maxwell Davies has two bars of 8
4 (divided 3+2+3) at rehearsal N.[69] - "Pas de deux", the fourth number of the ballet Fancy Free by Leonard Bernstein. Bars 324–25, 355–57, 359–61 are in 8
8.[70] - Petrushka by Igor Stravinsky, one bar before and five bars after rehearsal 4 superimposes a bar of 8
8 in piccolo 1 & 2, ob. 1 & 2, and trumpet 1, and piccolo 1 & 2, ob. 1–3, cornet 1 & trumpet 1, respectively against 3
4 in the rest of the orchestra.[71] - The Rite of Spring by Igor Stravinsky, in the tableau "Mysterious Games of the Maidens", the bar before rehearsal 99 is in 8
4.[72] - De Staat by Louis Andriessen. Bars 5, 8, 10, 12–16, 54–57, 83–84, 87–88, 582, 590, 602, 610, 612, 625, 630, 644, 647–48, 650, 663, 695, 707, 851, and 853 are in 8
8. Bars 686–87 are in 8
4.[73]
9/2, 9/4 or 9/8
Time signatures that group nine beats into three groups of three are very common in music. This section only lists other groupings, such as 2+3+2+2.
- "Big Lie Small World", by Sting is in 9
8 with varying division.[74] - "I Hung My Head", by Sting is in 2+3+2+2
8[75] - "Niska Banja," SATB choral arrangement by Nick Page of a Serbian Gypsy dance, is in 2+2+2+3
8[76] - "Six Dances in Bulgarian Rhythm" 1, from Béla Bartók's Mikrokosmos (no. 148), is in 4+2+3
8.[77] - "Six Dances in Bulgarian Rhythm" 5, from Béla Bartók's Mikrokosmos (no. 152), is in 2+2+2+3
8.[78]
Partially in 9
2, 9
4, or 9
8
- "Apocalypse in 9
8" by Genesis. Penultimate movement of the "Supper's Ready" suite, rhythm section plays a 9
8 riff as 3+2+4, organ solo plays polymetrically over this (sometimes 4
4, sometimes 7
4.)[79] - "Blue Rondo à la Turk" (1959) by the Dave Brubeck Quartet, from the album Time Out - Played as 2+2+2+3 and 3+3+3, with some alternating sections of 4
4[80] - "The Count of Tuscany" by Dream Theater. The verse riff is in 9
4, with a rhythm of 3+2+2+3+3+2+3
8.[81] - "Manticore", the fifth movement of Tarkus by Emerson, Lake and Palmer.
- "Los peones de hacienda", from the ballet Estancia by Alberto Ginastera. The refrain, at rehearsal numbers 62, 65, 67, 68, 69+3, and 70 is marked "9
8 (3
4 - 3
8)"; the remainder is variously in 6
8, 3
4, 5
8, and 7
8.[82]
9/32
Partially in 9
32
- Un Vitrail et des Oiseaux by Olivier Messiaen uses 3+2+2+2
32.[22]
10/4, 10/8 or 10/16
- Étude, op. 35, no. 12 in E major, for piano, by Charles-Valentin Alkan. (10
16, grouped as 5
16 + 5
16)[83] - "Just Like You Imagined" by Nine Inch Nails. (10
4)[84] - "Nostalgia" by Yanni. (10
8)[85] - "Playing in the Band" by the Grateful Dead (notated as 4+2+4
4). (10
4)[86] - "Wanderlove" by Mason Williams. (10
4)[87] - "Everything in its Right Place" by Radiohead. (10
4 after a pick-up measure of two beats; divided 4+4+2)[88]
Partially in 10
4, 10
8 or 10
16
- "Allegro calmo senza rigore", first movement of String Quartet No. 2, op. 35 (1945), by Benjamin Britten. Fourth bar after rehearsal K ("tranquillo, lusingando") is in 10
4.[89] - "Crocodile" by This Town Needs Guns is largely in 10
4.[90] - "Erotomania" by Dream Theater, the first 3 bars of the intro progression are in 10
8. [91] - "Rabbit" by This Town Needs Guns has parts in 10
4.[92] - Sketch, Op. 1 No. 7, by Alexei Stanchinsky (10
8).[30] - "Solacium", part 3 of "De Elegia Tertia" from Threni, id est Lamentationes Jeremiae Prophetae, by Igor Stravinsky.[93]
- "Testotyrannosaurus" by Hail the Sun contains some parts in 10
4, and 11
4.[94] - "Thick as a Brick" by Jethro Tull. The second section of the first part of the song is in 10
4[95]
11/4 or 11/8
- "Cigne je suis", from Airs a III. IIII. V. et VI. parties (première livre, 1608) by Claude Le Jeune (barred as 11
4).[96] - "The Eleven", by the Grateful Dead.[97][98]
- "Eleven Four", by Paul Desmond and recorded by the Dave Brubeck Quartet (11
4).[99] - "Fugue", second movement of Bachianas brasileiras no. 9, by Heitor Villa-Lobos. (11
8)[100] - In Nomine IX, for harpsichord, by John Bull. (11
4)[101] - Mario Kart 64 (video game), music by Kenta Nagata, at the race results screen.[102]
- "Man-Erg" (1971), by Van der Graaf Generator.[103]
- "Presto", second movement of Alexei Stanchinsky's Piano Sonata No. 2 in G major (11
8).[104] - "Pantagruel's Nativity" (1971), by Gentle Giant.[105]
- Sketch, Op. 1 No. 5, by Alexei Stanchinsky (11
8).[30] - "Where but for Caravan Would I Be" (1969), by Caravan.[106]
Partially in 11
4 or 11
8
- "Blockhead", by Devo. Verses are in 11
8 time, choruses in 4
4.[107] - "Crowned & Kissed" by Esperanza Spalding. The two-bar chorus groove is in 11
4 time.[108] - "Eight Ball, Coroner's Pocket" by Hail the Sun, intro is composed in 9
4, and 11
4.[109] - "Eleven", by Primus. Song is mainly in 11
8, the chorus has one bar in 9
8, and after two bars of 11
8 a bar in 12
8.[110] - "Here Comes the Sun" (1969), written by The Beatles' George Harrison. The song features common 4/4 time in the verses and a compound sequence of 11/8 + 4/4 + 7/8 in the bridge, phrasing interludes which Harrison drew from Indian music influences.[111][112]
- Mädchentotenlieder, by Bo Nilsson. Bar 74 is in 11
4 time.[113] - "Serenade" by Derek Bourgeois. The beginning and ending sections are in 11
8.[114][115] - "Testotyrannosaurus" by Hail the Sun contains some parts in 10
4, and 11
4.[94] - "Whipping Post", by The Allman Brothers Band. (Begins with a two-bar 11
4 riff).[116]
12/12
- Quartet for Piano and Winds by Franz Berwald, second movement. The clarinet part is written in 12
12.[22]
12/32
- Piano Sonata No. 32 in C minor, Op. 111, by Ludwig van Beethoven: the second movement is in 12
32 from bars 48 to 64.[22]
13/4, 13/8, or 13/16
- "The Great Divide" by Don Ellis (13
4).[117] - The Terminator main theme, by Brad Fiedel (13
16).[118] - "13th August" by FromUz (13
8).[119]
Partially in 13
4 or 13
8
- "The Becoming" by Nine Inch Nails. Begins in a 13
8 time signature and changes to 6
8 at the 3-minute mark.[120] - "Golden Brown" by The Stranglers. The song's characteristic opening phrase, repeated later in the song, is in 13
4 (3+3+3+4).[121] - "I Will Be Absorbed", by Egg.[105]
- "Libera me" from the Requiem Canticles by Igor Stravinsky. Bar 276 is in 13
4.[122] - "One Word" by Mahavishnu Orchestra has a section in 13
8 after the drum solo (just over eight and a half minutes in).[123] - "Rabbit" by This Town Needs Guns has sections in 13
4.[92] - "Serenade" by Derek Bourgeois. The middle section is in 13
4.[114][115] - "Skimbleshanks" from Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical Cats. Introduction and chorus are in 13
8 (3+3+3+4). Verses in 4
4.[124] - De Staat by Louis Andriessen. Bars 356 and 517 are in 13
4, while bar 724 is in 13
8.[125] - "Starless" (1974), by King Crimson.[105]
- "Thick as a Brick" (1972), by Jethro Tull.[105]
- "Turn It on Again" by Genesis. The verses and choruses are in 13
8. Other parts are in 8
8, and 5
8.[126]
15/8 or 15/16
Other than compound quintuple meter:
- "Chionoblepharou pater Aous" [Father of the bright-eyed Dawn], Hymn to the Sun, by Mesomedes of Crete (15
8, grouped 2+2+2+2+2+3+2)[127] - "Malibu Shuffle" for jazz band, by Wayne L. Perkins (15
8).[128] - "Perpetuum Mobile" by the Penguin Cafe Orchestra (15
8)[129] - "Strong One" from the Mother 3 soundtrack[130]
Partially in 15
4, 15
8 or 15
16
- Karn Evil 9, 1st Impression, Part 1 (1973), by Emerson, Lake and Palmer includes a passage in 15
8.[131] - Robert Browning Overture, by Charles Ives includes measures in 15
16 time.[132] - Sonata Op. 25 No. 2 in E minor, for piano, "Night Wind" (1911) by Nikolai Medtner. Main Allegro section in 15
8.[133] - De Staat by Louis Andriessen. Bars 501 and 535–36 are in 15
16 time, divided 4+4+4+3 (in b. 501 some layers are in 3+3+3+3+3 and 3+4+4+3).[134] - String Quartet No. 1 (1950–51), by Elliott Carter includes measures in 15
16 time.[132] - String Quartet No. 1 (1949), by Leon Kirchner includes measures in 15
16 time.[132] - String Quartet No. 2 (1959), by Elliott Carter includes measures in 15
16 time.[132] - "Tubular Bells" by Mike Oldfield. The first riff in 15
8 is made of two bars. The first bar is in 7
8, the second bar is in 8
8.[135]
17/4 or 17/8
- "Seven Teens", by Lionel Loueke in 17
4.[136] - Sketch, Op. 1, No. 6, by Alexei Stanchinsky (17
8, written as 4
8 + 4
8 + 5
8 + 4
8, but with the 17
8 time signature written as well).[30] - "(Theme from) Valley of the Dolls" by André Previn and Dory Previn in 17
4. Verse changes every measure 4
4 + 3
4 + 2
4 + 4
4 + 4
4.[137]
Partially in 17
4 or 17
8
- "Crystalline" by Björk.[138]
- "Hollow" by Björk.[139]
- "Moon" by Björk.[140]
- "Panda" by This Town Needs Guns includes sections of 17
4 and other meters like 3
4.[141]
18/8 or 18/16
- Barcarollette, No. 12 of the 49 Esquisses by Charles-Valentin Alkan (18
8, as compound sextuple meter).[142] - "Birds of Fire" by Mahavishnu Orchestra. Guitar plays 5+5+5+3 while drums play 6+6+6. Violin from time to time plays 3+3+2+3+3+2+2.[143]
- "Moderato", no. 2 (1909) from Four Etudes, op. 2, by Sergei Prokofiev (18
8 in one hand against 4
4 in the other).[144] - "Variatio 26, a 2 Clav.", from the Clavierübung, Vierter Theil, Aria mit 30 Veränderungen ["Goldberg Variations"], by Johann Sebastian Bach. (18
16 in one hand against 3
4 in the other, exchanging hands at intervals until the last five bars where both hands are in 18
16).[145]
19/4, 19/8, or 19/16
- "Celestial Terrestrial Commuters" by Mahavishnu Orchestra.[143]
- Consort for Piano and Strings by John Vincent.[146]
- "She's Only 19" by Wayne L. Perkins (19
4).[147] - "33 222 1 222" by Don Ellis (19
4).[148]
Partially in 19
4, 19
8, or 19
16
- "Home" by Dream Theater (ends in 19
16).[149]
20/4 or 20/8
Partially in 20
4 or 20
8
- "Deux moulins", from Airs a III. IIII. V. et VI. parties (première livre, 1608) by Claude Le Jeune (third section, Chant à 3, is barred as 20
4; the rest of the piece is in 21
4).[150] - "Gibbon" by This Town Needs Guns is transcribed partially in 20
4.[151] - "Sensus spei", part 2 of "De Elegia Tertia" from Threni, id est Lamentationes Jeremiae Prophetae, by Igor Stravinsky (bar 4 is in 20
8 time).[152]
21/4, 21/8, 21/16, or 21/32
Partially in 21
4, 21
8, 21
16 or 21
32
- "The Art Of Dying" by Gojira (2008) cycles from 4
4 to 2
4 to 21
16 (grouped 5+5+5+3+3) and repeats this pattern during the intro and beginning of the song.[153] - "Deux moulins", from Airs a III. IIII. V. et VI. parties (première livre, 1608) by Claude Le Jeune (first two sections, Rechant à 3 and Réprise à 5, are barred as 21
4; the last section of the piece is in 20
4).[150] - In the Dead of the Night suite by UK, "contains an instrumental refrain in 21
16".[105] - "Keep It Greasy" by Frank Zappa (On Joe's Garage, the first verse and guitar solo are counted in 19
16 and another part is in 21
16).[154] - Klavierstück IX (1954–55/61) by Karlheinz Stockhausen. Bars 6, 17, 120, and 149 are in 21
8 time.[155] - Sonata for Cello and Piano (1948), by Elliott Carter, includes 21
32 time.[156]
22/8
- "The First Circle" from the album First Circle by the Pat Metheny Group. Composed by Pat Metheny and Lyle Mays.[157]
23/4 or 23/16
- "Low Light" by Jacky Ligon from his Between Moments EP (2013) is in 23
4.[158]
Partially in 23
4 or 23
16
- "Baboon" by This Town Needs Guns is mainly in 23
4 with some 4
4.[159] - In The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (video game), Ganondorf's theme is mostly in 23
16 (sometimes with 17
16 as a polymeter) with a stray section in 4
4.[160]
24/1 or 24/16
- "Brobdingnagische Gigue", from Intrada, nebst burlesquer Suite, for two violins (the so-called "Gulliver Suite") by Georg Philipp Telemann is in 24
1.[161] - "Prelude no. 15" from The Well-Tempered Clavier by Johann Sebastian Bach is in 24
16.[11]
25/8 or 25/16
Partially in 25
8 or 25
16
- "Tenemos Roads", by National Health includes "some extremely intricate passages in 25
16".[105]
26/8
- "26 Is Dancier than 4" by This Town Needs Guns.[164]
29/16
32/8
Partially in 32
8
33/8
- "Blues in 33
8" by Matt Savage (33
8).[167] - "Bulgarian Bulge" by Don Ellis (33
8).[168]
Partially in 33
8
34/8
Partially in 34
8
- Klavierstück IX (1954–55/61) by Karlheinz Stockhausen. The last two bars are in 34
8 time.[170]
42/8
Partially in 42
8
- Klavierstück IX (1954–55/61) by Karlheinz Stockhausen. Bar 3 is in 42
8 time.[171]
43/16
Partially in 43
16
- Study No. 3a for Player Piano by Conlon Nancarrow uses 43
16.[22]
47/16
Partially in 47
16
- Study No. 3a for Player Piano by Conlon Nancarrow uses 47
16.[22]
87/8
Partially in 87
8
- Klavierstück IX (1954–55/61) by Karlheinz Stockhausen. Bar 2 is in 87
8 time.[171]
142/8
Partially in 142
8
- Klavierstück IX (1954–55/61) by Karlheinz Stockhausen. Bar 1 is in 142
8 time.[171]
Combined unusual signatures
- "All You Need Is Love" by The Beatles. The main verse pattern contains a total of 29 beats, split into two 7
4 measures, a single bar of 8
4, followed by a one bar return of 7
4 before repeating the pattern. The chorus, however, maintains a steady 4
4 beat with the exception of the last bar of 6
4.[172] - "Bastard" by Ben Folds. A combination of the time signatures 3
2, 3
4, 4
4, 5
4, 6
4, and 7
4.[173] - "The Dance of Eternity" by Dream Theater. This instrumental contains mixtures of faster and slower beat groupings in 8, 7, 6, 5, and 4. It goes through over 128 time signature changes in just over six minutes.[174]
- "The Eynsham Poacher", a traditional song; in the arrangement by Dave Pegg, most of the tune is in 12
8, but there are five other time signatures: several single bars at 9
8 occur in the refrain and elsewhere; the bridge has a six-bar phrase of three bars at 2
4, one at 6
8, then two at 2
4; whilst the 9
8 finale includes a bar each of 1
4 and 4
4.[175] - "Firth of Fifth": Introduction, by Tony Banks of Genesis, mixes duple and quadruple meters with 13
16 and 15
16 signatures.[176] - "Fish On" by Primus. The intro has a free time feel, but is transcribed as: 4
4, 2
4, 4
4, 3
4, 4
4, 2
4, 4
4, 2
4, 7
8, 12
8, 14
8, 4
4, 4
4, 12
8 (7 times) and 6
8.[177] - "Happiness is a Warm Gun", by The Beatles. The first part includes 4
4, 2
4, and 5
4; the second part includes 3
8; and third part 9
8 and 10
8 . The finale includes a sequence of 3 bars of 12
8 with the drums doing 4 bars of 4
4 and 1 bar of 12
4. "[T]he changes of meter either between or within every section establish themselves as a kind of leitmotif." (Alan Pollack's 'Notes On' series, no. 136). - "Here Comes the Sun", by The Beatles. The bridge can be transcribed as 11
8 + 4
4 + 7
8[178] - "I Say a Little Prayer" by Dionne Warwick uses two measures of 4
4, one measure of 10
4 and two measures of 4
4 for verses and 11
4 for its chorus.[179] - "Losing It" by Rush. Intro and verses are composed out of ten bars in 5
8, other parts are in 11
8.[180][181][182] - Sensemayá by Silvestre Revueltas includes sections in 5½
8. [183] - "No Time for Games" by Midnight Oil has an introduction and various other parts in 7
4 and verse and chorus in 4
4.[184][185] - "On the Floor" by Maartin Allcock. A tune where passages of mixed time signatures (5
4, 4
4, 3
4, 6
8, 6
4, 7
4 – with no more than two consecutive bars in the same time) alternate with longer passages in 4
4.[186] - "Trial Before Pilate (Including the Thirty-Nine Lashes)", from the musical Jesus Christ Superstar by Andrew Lloyd Webber, includes 4
4, 3
4, 5
8, 2
4, 6
8, 6
4, 5
4, 7
4, 7
8, and 2
8, and the time signature in the piece varies a total of 41 times.[187]
See also
Notes and references
- ↑ Ian Waugh first lists 2
2, 2
4, 2
8, 3
2, 3
4, 3
8, 4
2, 4
4, 4
8, 6
4, 6
8, 6
16, 9
4, 9
8, 9
16, 12
4, 12
8, and 12
16 (Waugh 2003, 76), then says "we've listed all the popular time signatures" (Waugh 2003, 77). - ↑ Ted Ross, The Art of Music Engraving and Processing: A Complete Manual, Reference and Text Book on Preparing Music for Reproduction and Print, 3rd edition, revised (Miami: Hansen Books; Santa Rosa, CA: NPC Imaging/Shattinger International Music Corporation, 2001),.
- ↑ Britten 1945b.
- ↑ Nilsson 1958, 10; Read 1964, 172.
- ↑ Boulez 1957, 19–20.
- ↑ Nilsson 1958, 10 & 12; Read 1964, 172.
- ↑ Nilsson 1958, 11; Read 1964, 172.
- ↑ Revueltas 1971, 32, 34–38.
- ↑ Copland 1945, 56–59.
- ↑ "A Headache And A Sixty-Fourth". Retrieved 2010-08-21.
- 1 2 3 4 Read 1964, 158.
- ↑ Myaskovsky 1947, 4–8, 23–30, 41–44, 59–65, 70–73.
- ↑ http://imslp.org/wiki/Lincolnshire_Posy_(Grainger,_Percy)
- ↑ Nilsson 1958, 3–15.
- ↑ Dream Theater Keyboard Anthology. Transcribed by Chris Romero and Jordan Baker 2004, 30.
- ↑ Chávez 1972, 3–4.
- ↑ Dream Theater Black Clouds and Silver Linings Authentic Guitar TAB. 2009, 7.
- ↑ Stravinsky n.d., 26.
- ↑ Piano Sonata No. 5 (Scriabin): Scores at the International Music Score Library Project. Leipzig: Edition Peters, 1971, plate E.P. 12588.
- ↑ Borodin [8888], 44–86.
- ↑ Chávez 1972, 12.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 http://homes.soic.indiana.edu/donbyrd/CMNExtremes.htm
- ↑ Chávez 1972, 16, 19.
- ↑ http://imslp.org/wiki/Lincolnshire_Posy_(Grainger,_Percy)
- ↑ Boulez 1957, 18.
- ↑ Nilsson 1958, 8; Read 1964, 172.
- ↑ Johann Bach (1985). Hans Bischoff, ed. Six Partitas and Overture in French Style. Alfred Music Publishing. p. 92. ISBN 978-0-7692-8604-4.
- ↑ http://www.artsjournal.com/postclassic/2008/03/dont_blame_me_it_was_henry_cow.html
- ↑ Alkan n.d. (ca.1861),.
- 1 2 3 4 http://petrucci.mus.auth.gr/imglnks/usimg/f/f3/IMSLP14991-Stanchinksy_-_12_Sketches.pdf
- ↑ "Category:Stanchinsky, Aleksey". Retrieved 25 February 2015.
- ↑ http://web.archive.org/web/20130401034850/http://trecento.com/research/Cuthbert_Changing_musical_time.pdf
- ↑ Chávez 1972, 17–20.
- ↑ http://imslp.org/wiki/Lincolnshire_Posy_(Grainger,_Percy)
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Read 1964, 170.
- ↑ http://ks.imslp.info/files/imglnks/usimg/1/1c/IMSLP29121-PMLP50421-Saint-Saens_-_Symphony_No_3_in_c_Op_78_-_2.pdf
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5owPoSSOa94
- ↑ http://conquest.imslp.info/files/imglnks/usimg/9/91/IMSLP289811-PMLP02189-Schumann__Robert_Werke_Breitkopf_Gregg_Serie_7_Band_2_RS_51_Op_13_scan.pdf
- ↑ http://imslp.eu/Files/imglnks/euimg/4/4d/IMSLP28271-PMLP04634-Webern_-_Variations__Op._27.pdf
- 1 2 3 http://imslp.eu/Files/imglnks/euimg/7/70/IMSLP28223-PMLP61956-Webern_-_String_Quartet__Op._28__score_.pdf
- ↑ Telemann 1728, 32; Telemann 1970, 13; Zohn 2004, 247: "The ‘Lilliputsche Chaconne’ is anything but stately as it flashes by (at least on the page) in a blur of demisemiquavers in 3/32 time. . . ."
- ↑ Chávez 1972, 17–20.
- ↑ Telemann 1728, 40; Zohn 2004, 247: "The ‘Reverie der Laputier, nebst ihren Aufweckern’ . . . teases the reader with a nonsensical time signature, 32/2
4, in an apparent allusion to the Laputians’ love for, and incompetence in, mathematics." Dietz Degan, the editor of Telemann 1970, transcribes this piece simply in 2
2. - ↑ Strait 2000, 56.
- ↑ Revueltas 1958, 3–15.
- ↑ Brahms 1928, 78–79, 79–80.
- ↑ Ives 1920, 56.
- ↑ Chávez 1972, 20.
- ↑ Ginastera 1946, 1:12–13.
- ↑ Barber 1943, 11–12.
- ↑ Wagner 2010, 312–13.
- ↑ Bartók 1940, 6:45–48.
- ↑ Bartók 1940, 6:51–55.
- ↑ Stravinsky 1965, 16.
- ↑ Britten 1946, 14–15.
- ↑ Bartók 1937, 130–33.
- ↑ Davies 1985, 202.
- ↑ Bartók 1937, 1–5, 7–8, 10.
- ↑ Holst 1977, 4–6, 18–19, 23–24, 27–30.
- ↑ Birtwistle 1996, 6–7 and 9.
- ↑ Suspended Animation Authentic Guitar TAB, transcribed by Jordan Baker. 2005, 81-85, 88-89, 105-107
- ↑ Stravinsky 1958, 11–12 and 19.
- ↑ Britten 1941, 30–32.
- ↑ Stravinsky 1962, 54, 56, 58, 60–61, 63, and 66.
- ↑ Stravinsky 1924, 50.
- ↑ Dethalbum III Authentic Guitar TAB, transcribed by Jordan Baker. 2013, 10
- ↑ Stravinsky 1967, 19.
- ↑ Bartók 1993, 72.
- ↑ Davies 1985, 48–49.
- ↑ Bernstein 1950, 48, 52–54.
- ↑ Stravinsky n.d., 11–12.
- ↑ Stravinsky 1970, 99.
- ↑ Andriessen 1976, 1–4, 82–88, 90, 92, 95–97, 99, 119.
- ↑ Gable 2009, 91.
- ↑ Gable 2009, 91.
- ↑ Page 1989.
- ↑ Bartók 1940, 6:35–38.
- ↑ Bartók 1940, 6:48–50.
- ↑ Seconds Out Songbook 1978 Wise Publications
- ↑ Dryden, Ken. "Blue Rondo a la Turk", Allmusic: "unusual time signature of 9
8". - ↑ Dream Theater Black Clouds and Silver Linings Authentic Guitar TAB, transcribed by Jordan Baker. 2009, 138
- ↑ Ginastera 1955, 17–20.
- ↑ Eddie 2007, 62.
- ↑ Banks 2009.
- ↑ Yanni (1993). The Best of Yanni; 11 selections from his top recordings. Hal Leonard Publishing. p. 16.
- ↑ "30) The Eleven and Other Rhythmic Oddities (Grateful Dead)". Retrieved 25 February 2015.
- ↑ Liner notes to The Mason Williams Phonograph Record Warner Brothers LP, WS 1729. Burbank: Warner Brothers-Seven Arts Records, 1968.
- ↑ http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f22/how-do-you-figure-out-time-signatures-476426/
- ↑ Britten 1946, 14.
- ↑ Tempo controlSlow down the song anytime you need it. "This Town Needs Guns - Crocodile Tab Online | UG Plus @ Ultimate-Guitar.com". Tp.ultimate-guitar.com. Retrieved 2013-08-01.
- ↑ TheDeftonesVault (2013-08-21), Dream Theater- Erotomania [Instrumental], retrieved 2016-03-24
- 1 2 Dreiblats 2013.
- ↑ Bars 2–5 are in 10
8 time (Stravinsky 1958, 52). - 1 2 Hail the Sun (19 February 2013). "Testotyrannosaurus.pdf" (PDF). Hail the Sun. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
- ↑ "Uncommon Time". Retrieved 25 February 2015.
- ↑ Le Jeune 1951–59, 2:85–88.
- ↑ rec.music.gdead FAQ.
- ↑ "The Annotated "The Eleven"". Retrieved 25 February 2015.
- ↑ Howard Brubeck (ed.), Dave Brubeck Deluxe Piano Album, (San Francisco: Derry Music Co., 1965), pp. 22-28.
- ↑ Villa-Lobos 1969, 3–18.
- ↑ J. A. Fuller Maitland and W. Barclay Squire (eds.), The Fitzwilliam Virginal Book, vol. 2 (Leipzig: Breitkopf und Härtel, 1899; reprinted New York: Dover Publications, Inc., 1963), 34–39.
- ↑ Elroy 2008.
- ↑ Macan 1997, 48–49.
- ↑ http://imslp.info/files/imglnks/usimg/9/9d/IMSLP15483-Stanchinksy_-_Piano_Sonata_No.2.pdf
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Macan 1997, 49.
- ↑ Macan 1997, 48.
- ↑ "The Daily Vault Music Reviews :". Retrieved 25 February 2015.
- ↑ Jisi, Chris (2012). "Esperanza Spalding: E-Harmony". Retrieved April 29, 2015.
- ↑ Hail the Sun (13 January 2013). "Eight Ball, Coroner's Pocket.pdf" (PDF). Hail the Sun. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
- ↑ Primus (musical group), Primus Anthology: A thru N: For Guitar and Bass, transcribed by Jeff Jacobsen (New York: Cherry Lane Music, 2000), 17–20. ISBN 1575601540.
- ↑ Pollack 1999.
- ↑ Pedler 2003, p. 555.
- ↑ Nilsson 1958, 7.
- 1 2 Reynish, Tim. "Derek Bourgeois: An Assessment of his music in Two Parts". Retrieved November 8, 2009.
- 1 2 "Pops Concert Program Notes". Howard Performing Arts Center, Andrews University. March 8, 2008. Retrieved November 8, 2009.
- ↑ Randy Poe (20 September 2006). Skydog: The Duane Allman Story. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 131. ISBN 978-0-87930-891-9. Retrieved 11 April 2012.
- ↑ Perkins 2000, 1:18.
- ↑ Stevenson 2014.
- ↑ "Ken Westphal Illustration & Design". Retrieved 25 February 2015.
- ↑ "The Becoming". Retrieved 25 February 2015.
- ↑ "Golden Brown by The Stranglers Songfacts". Songfacts.com. Retrieved 2012-04-14.
- ↑ Stravinsky 1967, 35.
- ↑ Jerry 2014.
- ↑ Andrew Lloyd Webber, T. S. Eliot - "Cats" Hal Leonard (HL00359466), ISBN 0-88188-447-2
- ↑ Andriessen 1976, 46, 69, and 101.
- ↑ Genesis 2001, .
- ↑ Davison and Apel 1974, 9; Pöhlmann and West 2001, 96–99.
- ↑ Perkins 2000, 2:18–40 (score).
- ↑ Jeffes, Arthur (2010-09-08), BBC Proms programme notes, 2010 season concert 73, BBC
- ↑ http://danbruno.net/writing/mother3/. Missing or empty
|title=
(help) - ↑ Macan 1997, 49; Chatburn n.d.
- 1 2 3 4 Read 1964, 157.
- ↑ Medtner 1998, 134.
- ↑ Andriessen 1976, 65 and 74.
- ↑ Oldfield, Mike (2007). Changeling - Autobiography of Mike Oldfield. Virgin Books. p. 111. ISBN 978-1-85227-381-1.
- ↑ Geoffrey Himes (2008). "Lionel Loueke: African American". Retrieved 2016-08-31.
- ↑ "Theme from "Valley of the Dolls". Musicnotes, Inc. Retrieved 2012-04-14.
- ↑ "Crystalline". bjork.fr. Retrieved 2012-04-14.
- ↑ "Hollow". bjork.fr. Retrieved 2012-04-14.
- ↑ "Moon". bjork.fr. Retrieved 2012-04-14.
- ↑ Dreiblats 2012.
- ↑ Alkan n.d. (ca.1862),.
- 1 2 John McLaughlin, John McLaughlin and the Mahavishnu Orchestra: John McLaughlin's Scores to 28 Classic Recordings (Van Nuys: Alfred Publishing, 2006): . ISBN 0-7390-4255-6.
- ↑ Prokofiev 1955, 1:9–14.
- ↑ Bach 1968, 98–99.
- ↑ Read 1964, 159.
- ↑ Perkins 2000, 2:1–17 (score).
- ↑ Fenlon 2002, 112–13.
- ↑ Portnoy, Wallis, and Siegel 1999.
- 1 2 Le Jeune 1951–59, 1:32–33.
- ↑ DreiblatsJaanis (2013). "Gibbon Guitar Pro by This Town Needs Guns". 911Tabs.Com. Retrieved 2013-08-01.
- ↑ Read 1964, 160; Stravinsky 1958, 29.
- ↑ Leonard 2011.
- ↑ Flans 1982.
- ↑ Stockhausen 1967, 1, 6, and 7.
- ↑ Read 1964, 156.
- ↑ "All About Jazz". All About Jazz. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
- ↑ "Between Moments EP". Retrieved 2013-10-03.
- ↑ "Baboon Guitar Pro by This Town Needs Guns @ Ultimate-Guitar.Com". Tabs.ultimate-guitar.com. Retrieved 2013-08-01.
- ↑ "Ganondorf Battle (Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time) Bass/Guitar Tab". GameTab. August 8, 2009. Retrieved July 15, 2013.
- ↑ Telemann 1728, 37; Telemann 1970, 14–15; Zohn 2004, 247: "the ‘Brobdingnagische Gigue’—no doubt inspired by the English jig Gulliver plays with great effort on a sixty-foot spinet—is danced in giant steps, trudging along in twenty-four semibreves to the bar."
- ↑ Fenlon 2002, 90 & 102–106.
- ↑ "OFFICE OF STRATEGIC INFLUENCE (O.S.I.) BIOGRAPHY". Retrieved 25 February 2015.
- ↑ Tempo controlSlow down the song anytime you need it. "This Town Needs Guns - 26 Is Dancier Than 4 Tab Online | UG Plus @ Ultimate-Guitar.com". Tp.ultimate-guitar.com. Retrieved 2013-08-01.
- ↑ "Battle music in Mother 3". danbruno.net. Retrieved 2016-06-14.
- ↑ Fenlon 2002, 40.
- ↑ "Matt Savage plays "Blues in 33/8" in New York". YouTube. 2007-01-01. Retrieved 2013-08-01.
- ↑ Fenlon 2002, 41; Fienberg 2004, 228–29 & 231–32.
- ↑ "Split Open and Melt". Phish.net. April 10, 2013. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
"SOAM’s" complex improv segment is notorious for its time signature, which involves three sections of eight eighth-notes and then a fourth section with nine eighth-notes in a steady pulse (listen to Fishman’s hi-hat)
- ↑ Stockhausen 1967, 7.
- 1 2 3 Stockhausen 1967, 1.
- ↑ Dean 2014.
- ↑ Ben Folds-"Songs for Silverman, piano/vocal transcriptions Hal Leonard Corporation.
- ↑ "Mike Portnoy - The dance of eternity time signature & solo 1". Retrieved 2009-02-28.
- ↑ Allcock, Maartin, ed. (1998). Fairport Convention Songbook 2. Woodworm Music. pp. 56–59.
- ↑ Banks n.d.
- ↑ Primus (musical group), Primus Anthology: A thru N: For Guitar and Bass, transcribed by Jeff Jacobsen (New York: Cherry Lane Music, 2000), 21. ISBN 1575601540.
- ↑ "The meters of these three measures are 11
8, 4
4, and 7
8, respectively. The special effect of running even eighth notes accented as if triplets against the grain of the underlying backbeat is carried to a point more reminiscent of Stravinsky than of the Beatles" (Alan Pollack's 'Notes On' series, no. 183). - ↑ Sheet music, published by New Hidden Valley Music and Casa David, copyright 1966
- ↑ Peart, Neil (2010-10-07). "Rush - Losing It Sheet Music (Digital Download)". Musicnotes.com. Retrieved 2012-04-14.
- ↑ Haigh n.d.
- ↑ "" Neil Peart Biography, Drum Videos and Pictures | Famous Drummers". Drumlessons.com. Retrieved 2012-04-14.
- ↑ Sheet music, published by G. Schirmer, copyright 1949
- ↑ "Midnight Oil :: No Time For Games Drum Sheet Music - Quality Drum Sheet Music, Scores, Tabs". Drumscore.com. Retrieved 2013-08-01.
- ↑ "[Powderworks] time signatures". Midnight-oil.info. Retrieved 2013-08-01.
- ↑ Allcock, Maartin, ed. (1998). Fairport Convention Songbook 2. Woodworm Music. p. 81.
- ↑ Lloyd Webber and Rice 1970.
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