Comments on: What’s your inner time signature?

By: Nick

Nick — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 15:05:15 +0000

Bb Minor in 23/16

By: Karl

Karl — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 14:15:45 +0000

I’ll return to the original statement: my life feels like a bouncy 5/4 time (which can feel awkward at first, but then you get used to it), with the odd 3/8 measure thrown in on occasion, just to throw things off.
As to my soul key: F! (I’m a Hornist, so natch). With dips into a minor key just for variety.

By: Allegra

Allegra — Sun, 14 Oct 2007 20:51:29 +0000

I’m allegro. DUH.

By: Ransom

Ransom — Sun, 14 Oct 2007 15:42:18 +0000

Definitely ritardando! Thanks for adding that one to my inner lexicon.

By: Katie B

Katie B — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 23:08:11 +0000

I think you can have a time signature. I think I’m probably around a 9/8 (conducted in one) allegretto, with some phrases in a 3/4 largo. You know-the songs that make the conductor look like their flailing around like mad.

By: Ashley

Ashley — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 22:54:44 +0000

I agree with what Kristen said about your inner ‘tempo’ not ‘time signature’ although, you can ask for both! So I will: I am an Allegro Ma Non Troppo y Poco Brilliante. Which means “Fast, but not too fast and somewhat Brightly”. As far as pegging down a key signature as a description of the state of the soul- In the music realm (at least in academics) the key signature is so important as other means of identifying the “tone character” of a piece. I would actually identify with a MODE better- say Dorian or SuperDorian.

By: Kristen

Kristen — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 13:22:58 +0000

What you’re really interested in is tempo, not time signature. The time signature just tells where the stressed beats are. The same time signature can be used for many different tempos. And, yes, people do actually have their own personal tempos, which is particularly pronounced when they are young. It is also thought that children have a personal pitch–the one they most frequently use when crying and making other sounds. Supposedly, if you sing the child’s personal pitch back to her, it will make her stop crying. Some children do seem to respond better to certain tonalities, too. (I’m a music ed. Ph.D. student and teach early childhood music.)