Double whole note

A double whole note (also called a breve) is a note that is double the value of a whole note, which is where it gets its name. In the ${\frac {4}{4}}$ time signature it has the value of 8 beats or two measures.

Left: breve in modern notation. Centre: breve in mensural notation used in some modern scores as well. Right: less common stylistic variant of the first form.

References

• Baker, Theodore (1895). "Note". A Dictionary of Musical Terms: Containing Upwards of 9,000 English, French, German, Italian, Latin, and Greek Words and Phrases (Revised and enlarged third ed.). New York: G. Schirmer.
• Burrowes, John Freckleton (1874). Piano-forte Primer: Containing the Rudiments of Music Adapted for Either Private Tuition Or Teaching in Classes Together with a Guide to Practice (with important additions by L.H. Southard, revised and modernized new ed.). Boston and New York: Oliver Ditson.
• Gehrkens, Karl Wilson (1914). Music Notation and Terminology. New York / Chicago: The A.S. Barnes Co. / Laidlaw Brothers.
• Gerou, Tom; Lusk, Linda (1996). Essential Dictionary of Music Notation. Essential Dictionary Series. Los Angeles: Alfred Music Publishing. ISBN 0-88284-730-9.
• Hoppin, Richard H. (1978). Medieval Music. W W Norton & Company. ISBN 0-393-09090-6.
• Jacob, Archibald (1960). Musical Handwriting: Or, How to Put Music on Paper, A Handbook for All Musicians, Professional and Amateur (revised second ed.). London: Oxford University Press.
• Read, Gardner (1969). Music Notation: A Manual of Modern Practice (second ed.). Boston: Alleyn and Bacon, Inc.
• Wright, Peter (2001). "Alla breve". In Sadie, Stanley; Tyrrell, John (eds.). The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians (second ed.). London: Macmillan Publishers.