Well, I have been enjoying Irish fiddle tunes for several years now and I understand that hornpipes are usually written in 4/4 time as a string of eighth notes which are understood to be not of equal length. Specifically, the eighth note that is on the beat is understood to be longer than the one appears to be on the upbeat in the written notation.
The question I have, largely because I don't play in a group (either Irish or other genre) and I came to Irish music late in life, is just how unequal the two notes should be.
I understand that it may vary from one group to another, perhaps from one region to another. But are there limits? I have seen hornpipes notated as dotted eighth followed by a sixteenth. That seems really "snappy". I have also heard them played with almost imperceptible difference, sounded more like a reel. I tend to play them almost like a quarter note and eighth note pair (triplet). So for what I do, a hornpipe could easily be written in 12/8.
I would love to hear some opinions.
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