semibrevis

A semibreve (also known as a whole note) is one musical note that counts for four beats and is represented by a hollow circle with no stem. An entire measure is used with one semibreve in 4/4 time. Though four quarter notes used a full measure as well, the difference is in the way the note is held with a semibreve.

Rhythm notation A semibreve lasts for four crotchet beats. A minim lasts for two crotchet beats. A quaver lasts for half a crotchet beat - so there are two to the time of a crotchet. A semiquaver lasts for a quarter of a crotchet beat - so there are four to the time of a crotchet.

In music, a double whole note (American), breve, or double note lasts two times as long as a whole note (or semibreve). It is the second-longest note value still in use in modern music notation.

The word 'semibreve', literally 'half' (semi) and 'short' (breve), derives from the ancient 'semibrevis', an equally hollow and stemless note used within the mensural notation system.

A whole note (American) or semibreve (British) in musical notation is a single note equivalent to or lasting as long as two half notes or four quarter notes.

The word 'semibreve', literally 'half' (semi) and 'short' (breve), derives from the ancient 'semibrevis', an equally hollow and stemless note used within the mensural notation system.

The semibreve has the longest note duration in modern music. The half note has half the duration of a whole note. The minim has half the duration of a semibreve. Two half notes occupy the same amount of time as one whole note.

The term 'whole note' for the English 'semibreve' seems to have well taken hold. Main reason is that it represents a whole bar (measure) in an awful lot of pieces. So many, it's called 'common time - represented by a 'C' at the beginning, but not short for common.

breve noun [C] (PRONUNCIATION) a symbol (˘) written or printed above a vowel to show that it is pronounced with a short sound: The breve indicates a short vowel, as opposed to the macron, which indicates long vowels. Compare. macron specialized.

Alla breve [alla ˈbrɛːve] – also known as cut time or cut common time – is a musical meter notated by the time signature symbol (a C with a vertical line through it), which is the equivalent of 2. 2. . The term is Italian for "on the breve", originally meaning that the beat was counted on the breve.

A semibreve rest (or whole note rest) is drawn as a small rectangle that hangs off the 2nd line from the top of the stave. It has a value of four beats, the same as a semibreve note.