how to count

[Pat Fox]

This is from a copy of Toccata and Fugue. How do you count this?

Oh this is common time.

[motet]

9 beats. You can tell finale to display common time if you want to hide the 9/4.

[Pat Fox]

I though common time was 4/4. C is what is in the first measure. I know how to display 9/4. But how am I to know that it is 9/4 and not 4/4.

[motet]

A tocatta can contain free, improvisatorish passages, which is what this is, like a cadenza.

[motet]

Here's how the Neue Bach Ausgabe chooses to notate it.

[Peter Thomsen]

The 6 “quarters” are actually sextuplet sixteenths, filling the last beat of a (slow) 4/4 measure (= the last beat of the half note in the Bass).

My guess is that the 6 “quarters” notation indicates a calm, in free tempo, arpeggio effect (a “pyramid” chord).

“Pyramid” chords are not uncommon in organ music.

[Pat Fox]

Every time I think I know something; I learn that I don't know.

[Pat Fox]

Peter Thomsen I have no idea what you are talking about. I have no training in music. But thank for trying.

motet, I have no idea as to what you did. I have tried to duplicate it but fail. I cannot get the tie lines to work. When I do the "A" quarter note with the sharp the tie line links to the "C" quarter note.

[Pat Fox]

You know looking ahead on this one. I have come to the conclusion that I bit off more than I should have. So forget about all the hours of help take it would have taken and lets just call it quits. But thanks any way.

[motet]

The ties in this case are an advanced topic. I was just answering about the rhythm (didn't do the ties).