Group 3: identifying omitted time values in compound time
Activity 1
a.
crotchet/dotted crotchet
b.
crotchet/crotchet
c.
dotted crotchet/dotted crotchet
The correct answer is a.
Answer
The time signature, 6/8, has two dotted-crotchet beats per bar. In the first bar, following the first dotted-crotchet beat which is conveniently beamed, we need a crotchet to make up the second dotted-crotchet beat. The three quavers that open the second bar add up to another dotted-crotchet beat and therefore we need a dotted crotchet to complete the bar.
Activity 2
a.
dotted crotchet/dotted semibreve
b.
dotted minim/semibreve
c.
dotted minim/dotted semibreve
The correct answer is c.
Answer
The time signature, 12/8, has four dotted-crotchet beats per bar. In the first bar, since two dotted-crotchet beats are already present, another two are required. A single time value for this would be a dotted minim. The time value that would extend throughout the second bar is a dotted semibreve.
Activity 3
a.
crotchet/quaver
b.
crotchet/dotted crotchet
c.
crotchet/crotchet
The correct answer is c.
Answer
The time signature, 9/8, has three dotted-crotchet beats per bar. Since, in the first bar, the fourth and fifth quavers are not beamed together, they are showing the division between the second and third beats. Therefore the second beat needs a crotchet before the fourth quaver to make up the second dotted-crotchet beat and the third beat needs a crotchet after the fifth quaver to make up the third dotted-crotchet beat.