Apr 23 2009
Cut time + eighth notes + 140 bpm = “All frenzied”
I had my first Yeomen rehearsal last night, and it was fast and furious! The finale of Act 1 features a song that clicks along at 140 beats per minute… using eighth notes…. in cut time! For non-musicians, that’s the equivalent of running up and down a flight of stairs while chewing gum and saying the ABCs backwards. The words are pretty clever, but it’s difficult to get them out in an articulate manner. Everyone did a pretty decent job of reading and singing the music, so our director was happy.
All the cast members seem to be pretty talented as well, so the rehearsals are much more productive. I’ll keep you posted on the rehearsal status, but it’s going to be one fast-paced adventure until the end of June!
Additional reading on time signatures: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_signature
Very interesting, indeed.