Help With Note Notation

I have started working on a new piece of music and I am stumped by some note notation which I have never seen used before. The notation consists of a note with a vertical line immediately before and after. See attached----the very first note (B flat) and in the 2nd measure the F and C in the treble and the A in the bass. This notation is repeated throughout the piece. Any thoughts?

Thanks in advance,
Bob

It is a double whole note. In this case it is because the meter is 4/2, and thus a complete bar contains four half note beats (or eight quarter note beats). Thus the double whole note would be a note that fills that entire measure (four half note beats/eight quarter note beats).

Another name is breve.

Thanks guys. It makes sense looking again at the music. I haven't had a lesson in 45 years. Perhaps I should get a good teacher.


Bob

Hi Bob,

That is called a "breve" or "double whole note". It has twice the duration of a whole note.

Monte

A double whole note is an American expression as is quarter note which we on this side of the pond call a crotchet.

For those who like books, Gardner Read wrote one that covers it all:
http://npcimaging.com/CD/Sale.htm
Ebook of a simpler resource:
http://www.amazon.com/Essential-Dictionary-Music-Notation-Practical/dp/0882847309/ref=pd_sim_b_1

James Pressler

And the latest and most up-to-date is "Behind Bars" by Elaine Gould of Faber publishing. Somewhat expensive but very thorough.