Explanation of New Rythms and Notes by Henry Cowell In musical time a whole note (@) is the unit by which all shorter time values are measured, for instance an eighth note (#)) is so called because it occupies one eighth the time of a whole note; a quarter note (#) is so called because it occupies one quarter the time of a whole note, etc. ‘The only regular system of subdividing a whole note is by twos into halves, quarters, eighths,ete. If notes of other time values, for instance notes occupying one twelfth of a whole note are desired, they are called“eighth note triplets’and written as eighth notes,with a figure 3 over them, thus org ‘Why not call them twelfth notes, as would seem natural? It is here proposed that all these irregular time values be called by their correct names, accord- ing to the part of a whole note they occupy. Thus J dd are third notes instead of “half note triplets” since each occupies one third of the timef'a whole note; dd ddd are fifth notes instead of “quarter note quintuplets, ete. ut Although heretofore not suggested in notation, it will be seen that third, sixth, twelfthand twenty- fourth notes form a related series; fifth, tenth and twentieth notes another, and in fact,that a new series can be formed on each odd number and its divisions by two. A new notation which brings out these relationships will be used as follows: Whole Note Series. Oval-shaped notes Whole note: © half note: d quarternote: 8th note: 2) s6t4 note: A 82nd note: Third Note Series. ‘Triangular-shaped notes 2-Brds note: 2 Brd note: A 6th note: al 12th note: a) 24th note: A 48th note: Fifth Note Series, Square notes A-Sths note: D 2-Sthsnote: Cl Sth note: 10th note: d) 20%h note: A 40th note: Seventh Note Series. Diamond-shaped notes 2: O 2-Tthsnote: J Th note: 14th note: ¢) 28th note: 4 56th note: Ninth Note Series, 4-Tths no Oblong notes t 8-Oths note:co 4-Othanotere] 2-9thezote: ml Oth note: al a8th note: a 36th noto: Eleventh Note Series. Oval notes with stroke 8-1ths note: & settthsnote:2) 2-41the note: 11th note: a) 22nd note: A 44th note: ‘Thirteenth Note Series. ‘Triangular notes with stroke 8-13ths noterg 4-18thsnote-e) 2-A8ths note: 18th note: #) 26th note: A 52nd note: Fifteenth Note Series. ww le wy ww wy Square notes with stroke S t 8-t5ths notoag 4-15ths noted 2-15ths notend 15th note:'W) Both note: Goth note: Following is part of the second measure of “Fabric’; in both old and new notation. It will be seen that the new notation saves the use of several tied tones, as well as figures and brackets. oD NEW, a ba] a a a el a a)FABRIC IENRY COWELL Andante — Pid. = ee = z Principal melody in Alto Piano ae PE 2 1 — _—¥# be he bon be he be b Copyright MCMXXII by Breitkopf & Hartel,Inc.New York. Printed in theU.S. A.Fabric 2