Reading the transcriptions

'A proper semibreve is equal to a full measure of time: that is to say, like the pulse of someone breathing evenly'

(FG.ddiii)

'The lowering of the hand corresponds to the systole, or compression and lowering of the heart, and the raising of the hand corresponds to the diastole, or dilation and raising of the heart: however, musicians don't normally follow the speed of this systole and diastole, the beating of the heart being quicker than the beating of the hand, apart from when they rush the beat; otherwise they choose a rather slow pulse, like that which beats only once a second, or 3600 times an hour.'

(MM.325)

basics | long-short | timenote=tactus | tactus=heartbeat | dimensio binaria | tripla white minims | tripla white semibreves | tripla black semibreves | rests | NB