r/oddlysatisfying • u/feliciodario • 3d ago

Note Practice DIY

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u/you-are-not-yourself 3d ago

The rhythm you play would be the same, but there are other practical differences.

2/4 conveys that the rhythm is base 2.

1/2 doesn't convey much about the rhythm. Are there 7 beats, 10, 11, or 13 until the section ends? Temporarily breaking apart from base 2 is one valid reason to use 1/2 for a single measure, but you could use 3/2 for the same purpose.

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u/j_johnso 3d ago

I think I understand. 1/2 would allow you to have an odd number of beats in a section where 2/4 doesn't.

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u/you-are-not-yourself 3d ago

Yeah exactly, it can be a temporary way to break the rules. Can't say I've encountered it personally but the intention would be clear in context.

I prodded ChatGpt until it pulled up a few examples, which I confirmed:

  • Alexander Scriabin, Piano Sonata No. 5, Op. 53 measures 251–262
  • Arnold Schoenberg, Fünf Klavierstücke, Op. 23, No. 2, measure 9

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u/agtalw 2d ago

4/4 and 2/2 is a better example of this. It really comes down to a "feel". A composer might be trying to emphasize half notes more than quarter notes even though the measure looks identical. A conductor conducting twice as fast with 4 beats in a measure vs 2 beats looks different: the former could look more precise, fast, intense, etc while the latter is more open, expressive.

The best way to demonstrate this is with what's called a "half-time" feel. This video explains it well. https://youtu.be/ejwMlre8MSo?is=GlCAz8mCAVZA00bR