Mixing
What do these square notes mean (in the left hand)?
What are this notes about? I had to learn this piece in 8-27-1963 in my first year at the music conservatory in Bern.
The notes look like square notation, but the music was written in 20th. century.
It’s nr. 102 of Bela Bartok’s “mikrokosmos”.
piano notation
asked Jan 25 at 19:11
Albrecht HügliAlbrecht Hügli
3,450220
|
show 9 more comments
What are this notes about? I had to learn this piece in 8-27-1963 in my first year at the music conservatory in Bern.
The notes look like square notation, but the music was written in 20th. century.
It’s nr. 102 of Bela Bartok’s “mikrokosmos”.
piano notation
asked Jan 25 at 19:11
Albrecht HügliAlbrecht Hügli
3,450220
1
At least post a pic of the sheet music.
– ggcg
Jan 25 at 19:14
1
How do you keep that l.h. chord sounding? Even pedalling it won't last that long. And why is it written with no key sig., when the B chord is a clue?
– Tim
Jan 25 at 20:09
1
@ Tim, good thought, that’s the question. The title will tell you. But concerning the key: in many pieces Bartok doesn’t set a key, however tonality is clear.
– Albrecht Hügli
Jan 25 at 20:28
1
I neither knew that diamonds are used in string instruments as notation of dinamics: this is actually the title of mikroksmos 102. And the instruction “press down without sounding” is written at the left bottom of the page. Above the first trade of B in the beginning you can read the hint 1)
– Albrecht Hügli
Jan 25 at 20:46
1
@AlbrechtHügli, doesn't help. On an instrument like guitar these would be harmonics. Don't know how to play these on a piano.
– ggcg
Jan 25 at 22:04
|
show 9 more comments
What are this notes about? I had to learn this piece in 8-27-1963 in my first year at the music conservatory in Bern.
The notes look like square notation, but the music was written in 20th. century.
It’s nr. 102 of Bela Bartok’s “mikrokosmos”.
piano notation
asked Jan 25 at 19:11
Albrecht HügliAlbrecht Hügli
3,450220
What are this notes about? I had to learn this piece in 8-27-1963 in my first year at the music conservatory in Bern.
The notes look like square notation, but the music was written in 20th. century.
It’s nr. 102 of Bela Bartok’s “mikrokosmos”.
piano notation
piano notation
asked Jan 25 at 19:11
Albrecht HügliAlbrecht Hügli
3,450220
asked Jan 25 at 19:11
Albrecht HügliAlbrecht Hügli
3,450220
edited Jan 25 at 20:19
Albrecht Hügli
asked Jan 25 at 19:11
Albrecht HügliAlbrecht Hügli
3,450220
asked Jan 25 at 19:11
Albrecht HügliAlbrecht Hügli
3,450220
asked Jan 25 at 19:11
Albrecht HügliAlbrecht Hügli
3,450220
3,450220
1
At least post a pic of the sheet music.
– ggcg
Jan 25 at 19:14
1
How do you keep that l.h. chord sounding? Even pedalling it won't last that long. And why is it written with no key sig., when the B chord is a clue?
– Tim
Jan 25 at 20:09
1
@ Tim, good thought, that’s the question. The title will tell you. But concerning the key: in many pieces Bartok doesn’t set a key, however tonality is clear.
– Albrecht Hügli
Jan 25 at 20:28
1
I neither knew that diamonds are used in string instruments as notation of dinamics: this is actually the title of mikroksmos 102. And the instruction “press down without sounding” is written at the left bottom of the page. Above the first trade of B in the beginning you can read the hint 1)
– Albrecht Hügli
Jan 25 at 20:46
1
@AlbrechtHügli, doesn't help. On an instrument like guitar these would be harmonics. Don't know how to play these on a piano.
– ggcg
Jan 25 at 22:04
|
show 9 more comments
1
At least post a pic of the sheet music.
– ggcg
Jan 25 at 19:14
1
How do you keep that l.h. chord sounding? Even pedalling it won't last that long. And why is it written with no key sig., when the B chord is a clue?
– Tim
Jan 25 at 20:09
1
@ Tim, good thought, that’s the question. The title will tell you. But concerning the key: in many pieces Bartok doesn’t set a key, however tonality is clear.
– Albrecht Hügli
Jan 25 at 20:28
1
I neither knew that diamonds are used in string instruments as notation of dinamics: this is actually the title of mikroksmos 102. And the instruction “press down without sounding” is written at the left bottom of the page. Above the first trade of B in the beginning you can read the hint 1)
– Albrecht Hügli
Jan 25 at 20:46
1
@AlbrechtHügli, doesn't help. On an instrument like guitar these would be harmonics. Don't know how to play these on a piano.
– ggcg
Jan 25 at 22:04
1
1
At least post a pic of the sheet music.
– ggcg
Jan 25 at 19:14
At least post a pic of the sheet music.
– ggcg
Jan 25 at 19:14
1
1
How do you keep that l.h. chord sounding? Even pedalling it won't last that long. And why is it written with no key sig., when the B chord is a clue?
– Tim
Jan 25 at 20:09
How do you keep that l.h. chord sounding? Even pedalling it won't last that long. And why is it written with no key sig., when the B chord is a clue?
– Tim
Jan 25 at 20:09
1
1
@ Tim, good thought, that’s the question. The title will tell you. But concerning the key: in many pieces Bartok doesn’t set a key, however tonality is clear.
– Albrecht Hügli
Jan 25 at 20:28
@ Tim, good thought, that’s the question. The title will tell you. But concerning the key: in many pieces Bartok doesn’t set a key, however tonality is clear.
– Albrecht Hügli
Jan 25 at 20:28
1
1
I neither knew that diamonds are used in string instruments as notation of dinamics: this is actually the title of mikroksmos 102. And the instruction “press down without sounding” is written at the left bottom of the page. Above the first trade of B in the beginning you can read the hint 1)
– Albrecht Hügli
Jan 25 at 20:46
I neither knew that diamonds are used in string instruments as notation of dinamics: this is actually the title of mikroksmos 102. And the instruction “press down without sounding” is written at the left bottom of the page. Above the first trade of B in the beginning you can read the hint 1)
– Albrecht Hügli
Jan 25 at 20:46
1
1
@AlbrechtHügli, doesn't help. On an instrument like guitar these would be harmonics. Don't know how to play these on a piano.
– ggcg
Jan 25 at 22:04
@AlbrechtHügli, doesn't help. On an instrument like guitar these would be harmonics. Don't know how to play these on a piano.
– ggcg
Jan 25 at 22:04
|
show 9 more comments
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
I believe the square notes (usually called diamonds) indicate keys that are silently depressed and held down. This technique allows those notes to ring sympathetically when the right hand notes are played. This specific piece is mentioned in this Wikipedia entry:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piano_extended_technique
The relevant passage:
Composers such as Béla Bartók started to look at the piano as a more percussive instrument and explored various techniques to achieve percussive effects. His Bagatelles and Mikrokosmos (the series of works for the instruction of young pianists) both contain unusual instructions to the pianist. He even used special notation for certain of them: "hold keys silently" is indicated by square note heads rather than the usual round ones.
Lastly, the "1)" above first chord probably indicates a composer's note somewhere in the score, so that will give you the definitive answer.
answered Jan 25 at 20:30
PeterPeter
2,586320
1
Oh, Brilliant! I'd accept this if it were possible! Bravo, Peter!
– user45266
Jan 25 at 20:32
4
@user45266 Yes, this answer is correct. Just a note, although I see why you describe them as squares, these noteheads are generally referred to as diamonds. The same diamond noteheads are often used for harmonics on string instruments.
– Pat Muchmore
Jan 25 at 20:39
1
@PatMuchmore Yes, I've usually heard them referred to as diamonds as well, but both the OP and the Wikipedia article used the term "square." Truly square noteheads (basically like what's shown but rotated 45 degrees) also exist.
– Peter
Jan 25 at 20:59
2
So, that would be a way to excite harmonics on a piano. Very cool.
– ggcg
Jan 25 at 22:05
Yes, you know what happens if you press the keys slowly down without playing. “Hold the keys silently”. The strings of the piano are open. The sff in the first bar effects them to vibrate and they still resonate to the soft piano tune. That’s what Tim was wondering how pedaling could be hold so long.
– Albrecht Hügli
Jan 25 at 22:49
|
show 2 more comments
Your Answer
StackExchange.ready(function() {
var channelOptions = {
tags: "".split(" "),
id: "240"
};
initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);
StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function() {
// Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled) {
StackExchange.using("snippets", function() {
createEditor();
});
}
else {
createEditor();
}
});
function createEditor() {
StackExchange.prepareEditor({
heartbeatType: 'answer',
autoActivateHeartbeat: false,
convertImagesToLinks: false,
noModals: true,
showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
reputationToPostImages: null,
bindNavPrevention: true,
postfix: "",
imageUploader: {
brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"u003ecc by-sa 3.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
allowUrls: true
},
noCode: true, onDemand: true,
discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
});
}
});
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fmusic.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f79256%2fwhat-do-these-square-notes-mean-in-the-left-hand%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
I believe the square notes (usually called diamonds) indicate keys that are silently depressed and held down. This technique allows those notes to ring sympathetically when the right hand notes are played. This specific piece is mentioned in this Wikipedia entry:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piano_extended_technique
The relevant passage:
Composers such as Béla Bartók started to look at the piano as a more percussive instrument and explored various techniques to achieve percussive effects. His Bagatelles and Mikrokosmos (the series of works for the instruction of young pianists) both contain unusual instructions to the pianist. He even used special notation for certain of them: "hold keys silently" is indicated by square note heads rather than the usual round ones.
Lastly, the "1)" above first chord probably indicates a composer's note somewhere in the score, so that will give you the definitive answer.
answered Jan 25 at 20:30
PeterPeter
2,586320
1
Oh, Brilliant! I'd accept this if it were possible! Bravo, Peter!
– user45266
Jan 25 at 20:32
4
@user45266 Yes, this answer is correct. Just a note, although I see why you describe them as squares, these noteheads are generally referred to as diamonds. The same diamond noteheads are often used for harmonics on string instruments.
– Pat Muchmore
Jan 25 at 20:39
1
@PatMuchmore Yes, I've usually heard them referred to as diamonds as well, but both the OP and the Wikipedia article used the term "square." Truly square noteheads (basically like what's shown but rotated 45 degrees) also exist.
– Peter
Jan 25 at 20:59
2
So, that would be a way to excite harmonics on a piano. Very cool.
– ggcg
Jan 25 at 22:05
Yes, you know what happens if you press the keys slowly down without playing. “Hold the keys silently”. The strings of the piano are open. The sff in the first bar effects them to vibrate and they still resonate to the soft piano tune. That’s what Tim was wondering how pedaling could be hold so long.
– Albrecht Hügli
Jan 25 at 22:49
|
show 2 more comments
I believe the square notes (usually called diamonds) indicate keys that are silently depressed and held down. This technique allows those notes to ring sympathetically when the right hand notes are played. This specific piece is mentioned in this Wikipedia entry:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piano_extended_technique
The relevant passage:
Composers such as Béla Bartók started to look at the piano as a more percussive instrument and explored various techniques to achieve percussive effects. His Bagatelles and Mikrokosmos (the series of works for the instruction of young pianists) both contain unusual instructions to the pianist. He even used special notation for certain of them: "hold keys silently" is indicated by square note heads rather than the usual round ones.
Lastly, the "1)" above first chord probably indicates a composer's note somewhere in the score, so that will give you the definitive answer.
answered Jan 25 at 20:30
PeterPeter
2,586320
1
Oh, Brilliant! I'd accept this if it were possible! Bravo, Peter!
– user45266
Jan 25 at 20:32
4
@user45266 Yes, this answer is correct. Just a note, although I see why you describe them as squares, these noteheads are generally referred to as diamonds. The same diamond noteheads are often used for harmonics on string instruments.
– Pat Muchmore
Jan 25 at 20:39
1
@PatMuchmore Yes, I've usually heard them referred to as diamonds as well, but both the OP and the Wikipedia article used the term "square." Truly square noteheads (basically like what's shown but rotated 45 degrees) also exist.
– Peter
Jan 25 at 20:59
2
So, that would be a way to excite harmonics on a piano. Very cool.
– ggcg
Jan 25 at 22:05
Yes, you know what happens if you press the keys slowly down without playing. “Hold the keys silently”. The strings of the piano are open. The sff in the first bar effects them to vibrate and they still resonate to the soft piano tune. That’s what Tim was wondering how pedaling could be hold so long.
– Albrecht Hügli
Jan 25 at 22:49
|
show 2 more comments
I believe the square notes (usually called diamonds) indicate keys that are silently depressed and held down. This technique allows those notes to ring sympathetically when the right hand notes are played. This specific piece is mentioned in this Wikipedia entry:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piano_extended_technique
The relevant passage:
Composers such as Béla Bartók started to look at the piano as a more percussive instrument and explored various techniques to achieve percussive effects. His Bagatelles and Mikrokosmos (the series of works for the instruction of young pianists) both contain unusual instructions to the pianist. He even used special notation for certain of them: "hold keys silently" is indicated by square note heads rather than the usual round ones.
Lastly, the "1)" above first chord probably indicates a composer's note somewhere in the score, so that will give you the definitive answer.
answered Jan 25 at 20:30
PeterPeter
2,586320
I believe the square notes (usually called diamonds) indicate keys that are silently depressed and held down. This technique allows those notes to ring sympathetically when the right hand notes are played. This specific piece is mentioned in this Wikipedia entry:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piano_extended_technique
The relevant passage:
Composers such as Béla Bartók started to look at the piano as a more percussive instrument and explored various techniques to achieve percussive effects. His Bagatelles and Mikrokosmos (the series of works for the instruction of young pianists) both contain unusual instructions to the pianist. He even used special notation for certain of them: "hold keys silently" is indicated by square note heads rather than the usual round ones.
Lastly, the "1)" above first chord probably indicates a composer's note somewhere in the score, so that will give you the definitive answer.
answered Jan 25 at 20:30
PeterPeter
2,586320
edited Jan 25 at 20:55
answered Jan 25 at 20:30
PeterPeter
2,586320
answered Jan 25 at 20:30
PeterPeter
2,586320
answered Jan 25 at 20:30
PeterPeter
2,586320
2,586320
1
Oh, Brilliant! I'd accept this if it were possible! Bravo, Peter!
– user45266
Jan 25 at 20:32
4
@user45266 Yes, this answer is correct. Just a note, although I see why you describe them as squares, these noteheads are generally referred to as diamonds. The same diamond noteheads are often used for harmonics on string instruments.
– Pat Muchmore
Jan 25 at 20:39
1
@PatMuchmore Yes, I've usually heard them referred to as diamonds as well, but both the OP and the Wikipedia article used the term "square." Truly square noteheads (basically like what's shown but rotated 45 degrees) also exist.
– Peter
Jan 25 at 20:59
2
So, that would be a way to excite harmonics on a piano. Very cool.
– ggcg
Jan 25 at 22:05
Yes, you know what happens if you press the keys slowly down without playing. “Hold the keys silently”. The strings of the piano are open. The sff in the first bar effects them to vibrate and they still resonate to the soft piano tune. That’s what Tim was wondering how pedaling could be hold so long.
– Albrecht Hügli
Jan 25 at 22:49
|
show 2 more comments
1
Oh, Brilliant! I'd accept this if it were possible! Bravo, Peter!
– user45266
Jan 25 at 20:32
4
@user45266 Yes, this answer is correct. Just a note, although I see why you describe them as squares, these noteheads are generally referred to as diamonds. The same diamond noteheads are often used for harmonics on string instruments.
– Pat Muchmore
Jan 25 at 20:39
1
@PatMuchmore Yes, I've usually heard them referred to as diamonds as well, but both the OP and the Wikipedia article used the term "square." Truly square noteheads (basically like what's shown but rotated 45 degrees) also exist.
– Peter
Jan 25 at 20:59
2
So, that would be a way to excite harmonics on a piano. Very cool.
– ggcg
Jan 25 at 22:05
Yes, you know what happens if you press the keys slowly down without playing. “Hold the keys silently”. The strings of the piano are open. The sff in the first bar effects them to vibrate and they still resonate to the soft piano tune. That’s what Tim was wondering how pedaling could be hold so long.
– Albrecht Hügli
Jan 25 at 22:49
1
1
Oh, Brilliant! I'd accept this if it were possible! Bravo, Peter!
– user45266
Jan 25 at 20:32
Oh, Brilliant! I'd accept this if it were possible! Bravo, Peter!
– user45266
Jan 25 at 20:32
4
4
@user45266 Yes, this answer is correct. Just a note, although I see why you describe them as squares, these noteheads are generally referred to as diamonds. The same diamond noteheads are often used for harmonics on string instruments.
– Pat Muchmore
Jan 25 at 20:39
@user45266 Yes, this answer is correct. Just a note, although I see why you describe them as squares, these noteheads are generally referred to as diamonds. The same diamond noteheads are often used for harmonics on string instruments.
– Pat Muchmore
Jan 25 at 20:39
1
1
@PatMuchmore Yes, I've usually heard them referred to as diamonds as well, but both the OP and the Wikipedia article used the term "square." Truly square noteheads (basically like what's shown but rotated 45 degrees) also exist.
– Peter
Jan 25 at 20:59
@PatMuchmore Yes, I've usually heard them referred to as diamonds as well, but both the OP and the Wikipedia article used the term "square." Truly square noteheads (basically like what's shown but rotated 45 degrees) also exist.
– Peter
Jan 25 at 20:59
2
2
So, that would be a way to excite harmonics on a piano. Very cool.
– ggcg
Jan 25 at 22:05
So, that would be a way to excite harmonics on a piano. Very cool.
– ggcg
Jan 25 at 22:05
Yes, you know what happens if you press the keys slowly down without playing. “Hold the keys silently”. The strings of the piano are open. The sff in the first bar effects them to vibrate and they still resonate to the soft piano tune. That’s what Tim was wondering how pedaling could be hold so long.
– Albrecht Hügli
Jan 25 at 22:49
Yes, you know what happens if you press the keys slowly down without playing. “Hold the keys silently”. The strings of the piano are open. The sff in the first bar effects them to vibrate and they still resonate to the soft piano tune. That’s what Tim was wondering how pedaling could be hold so long.
– Albrecht Hügli
Jan 25 at 22:49
|
show 2 more comments
Thanks for contributing an answer to Music: Practice & Theory Stack Exchange!
- Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!
But avoid …
- Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.
- Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.
To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fmusic.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f79256%2fwhat-do-these-square-notes-mean-in-the-left-hand%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
1
At least post a pic of the sheet music.
– ggcg
Jan 25 at 19:14
1
How do you keep that l.h. chord sounding? Even pedalling it won't last that long. And why is it written with no key sig., when the B chord is a clue?
– Tim
Jan 25 at 20:09
1
@ Tim, good thought, that’s the question. The title will tell you. But concerning the key: in many pieces Bartok doesn’t set a key, however tonality is clear.
– Albrecht Hügli
Jan 25 at 20:28
1
I neither knew that diamonds are used in string instruments as notation of dinamics: this is actually the title of mikroksmos 102. And the instruction “press down without sounding” is written at the left bottom of the page. Above the first trade of B in the beginning you can read the hint 1)
– Albrecht Hügli
Jan 25 at 20:46
1
@AlbrechtHügli, doesn't help. On an instrument like guitar these would be harmonics. Don't know how to play these on a piano.
– ggcg
Jan 25 at 22:04