should the acciaccatura be played on the beat or before the beat?

Question

the piece i have is scottish/larghetto .. baroque period (1730s) . there is an acciaccatura (a quaver) before a dotted a quaver.

Answer 1

This is always a good question.

What you describe is properly an appoggiatura, not an acciaccatura.
The acciaccatura is just a "grace note" which is theoretically timeless, but in practise occurs before the beat.

The appoggiatura is really notational shorthand. In the example you describe, I would expect the first note to be played as a quaver.

However....
You say the piece is Scottish. It might just be an example of what is called the Scotch Snap [which is not, despite appearances, a cocktail].
In that case, its proper interpretation would be a demi-semiquaver, on the beat and strongly accented.

For the sake of our esteemed American colleagues:
demi-semiquaver = thirty-second note
semiquaver = sixteenth note
quaver = eighth note

If you want more on acciaccature and associated musical gnats, there's quite a good little article at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ornament_(music)
[Although the Irish stuff is really an unnecessary aside].

or you can go a-googling for


Wow. It's a lot easier to demonstrate this stuff!
Anyway. I hope that helps.

Answer 2

Acciaccatura

Answer 3

The acciaccatura should be played on the beat as it adds dissonance. For example, if you had a progression to a chord with a suspended 4th that resolved down to the 3rd, you wouldn't want to play the 4th before the chord and the 3rd right on the chord, as the ear would pick the 4th up as a passing tone or other embellishment. Playing the 4th on the beat and then resolving to the third adds a slight uncomfortable feeling and builds anticipation to the resolve, therefore making the chord progression even more effective.

Answer 4

depending on the style of the piece and when it was written, it could be played on or before the beat. there are times when those little additions to music can be played differently. I suggest you do a little research on the piece you are playing and figure out where to put them correctly. you might also try listening to some recordiings of specific pieces and take the example of whoever recorded it.

Answer 5

Mel, your answer is incorrect... Varun22king asked whether it is played on or before and you answer after.

The answer is usually on, unless stated. Romantic music, such as the piano music of Chopin, is sometimes played with the grace notes before the beat.

Answer 6

ac·ciac·ca·tu·ra (ä-chä'kə-tʊr'ə)
n. Music.
An ornament note that is one half step or one whole step below a principal note and is sounded at the same time as the principal note, adding dissonance to a harmony.

Answer 7

Great answer, Quicker. You'd get my vote.

Peace
VT

p.s. and, yes, I agree with you that it would be a LOT easier to just demonstrate the answer!

Answer 8

it's a grace note. I'd say after.