A Plaine and Easie Introduction to Practicall Musicke (1597) - Page 22

Both Moodes,
time & prola
tion vnperfect.

The vnperfect prolation in the vnperfect time, thus.

A branching musical diagram shows the subdivision of note values in 'unperfect' time and prolation. Eight minims at the top are paired into four semibreves, which are then paired into two breves, which finally relate to a single breve marked with the 'C' time signature. The notation uses mensural symbols.

And bicause you may the better remember the value of euery note, according to euery figne fet before it, here is a Table of them.

A Table containing the value of euery Note, according to the value of the Moodes or fignes.

A large musical table titled "A Table containing the value of euery Note." It consists of a grid showing the relationships between different mensural signs and note values (Large, Long, Breve, Semibreve, and Minim). Each column corresponds to a specific sign, with rows indicating the total value of each note in semibreves and the ratio between note levels.


	[Minim]		[Minim]		[Minim]		[Minim]		[Minim]		[Minim]		[Minim]		[Minim]
	2		2		2		2		2		2		3		3
1	[SB]	1	[SB]	1	[SB]	1	[SB]	1	[SB]	1	[SB]	3	[SB]	3	[SB]
	3		3		2		2		3		2		3		2
3	[B]	3	[B]	2	[B]	2	[B]	3	[B]	2	[B]	9	[B]	6	[B]
	3		2		3		2		2		2		2		2
9	[Long]	6	[Long]	6	[Long]	4	[Long]	6	[Long]	4	[Long]	18	[Long]	12	[Long]
	3		2		2		2		2		2		2		2
27	[Large]	12	[Large]	12	[Large]	8	[Large]	12	[Large]	8	[Large]	36	[Large]	24	[Large]
	$\odot$3		$\text{C}\cdot$3		$\odot$2		$\text{C}\cdot$2		$\odot$		$\text{C}\cdot$		$\text{O}!	$

The symbols in the bottom row of the table are mensural signs. $\odot$ represents perfect time with perfect prolation (dot); $\text{C}\cdot$ represents imperfect time with perfect prolation; the vertical stroke represents diminished time.

Phi. I praie you explaine this Table, and declare the vfe thereof.

The vfe of the
precedent Ta-
ble.

Ma. In the Table there is no difficultie, if you confider it attentiuely. Yet, to take a way all fcruple, I will fhew the vfe of it. In the lower part ftande the fignes, and iuft ouer them the notes, that if you doubt of the value of anie note in anie figne, feeke out the Signe in the loweft part of the Table, and iuft ouer it you fhall finde the note: then at the left hand you fhall fee a number fet euen with it, fhewing the value or howe many Semibreeues it conteineth. Ouer it you fhall find how many of the next leffer notes belong to it in that figne. As for example in the great Moode perfect you doubt how manie Breeues the Longe containeth: in the loweft part of the table on the left hand, you finde this figne $\odot$3 which is the Moode you fought: iuft ouer that figne you finde a Large, ouer that, the number 3, and ouer that a Longe. Now hauing found your Longe you finde hard by it on the left hand the number of 9. fignifying that it is nyne Semibreeues in that Moode: Ouer it you finde the figure of three, fignifying that there belong three Breeues to the Longe in that Moode: and fo foorth with the rest.

Phi. This is easie and verie profitable, therefore feeing you haue fet downe the ancient Moodes (which hereafter may come in requeft, as the fhotten-bellied doublet, & the great breeches,) I praie you come to the declaration of those which wee vfe nowe.

Ma. I wil, but firft you fhall have an example of the vfe of your Moodes in finging, where alfo you haue an example of augmentation (of which wee fhall fpeake another time), in the Treble and Meane partes.