Double whole note

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.

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 [math]\displaystyle{ \frac 4 4 }[/math] time signature it has the value of 8 beats or two measures.

Double Whole Note Media

• 

  Rests on stave – breve

References

• Baker, Theodore. Note (1895). New York: G. Schirmer.
• Burrowes, John Freckleton. Piano-forte Primer: Containing the Rudiments of Music Adapted for Either Private Tuition Or Teaching in Classes Together with a Guide to Practice (1874). Boston and New York: Oliver Ditson.
• Gehrkens, Karl Wilson. Music Notation and Terminology (1914). New York / Chicago: The A.S. Barnes Co. / Laidlaw Brothers.
• Gerou, Tom. Essential Dictionary of Music Notation. Essential Dictionary Series (1996). Los Angeles: Alfred Music Publishing. ISBN 0-88284-730-9.
• Hoppin, Richard H.. Medieval Music (1978)W W Norton & Company. ISBN 0-393-09090-6.
• Jacob, Archibald. Musical Handwriting: Or, How to Put Music on Paper, A Handbook for All Musicians, Professional and Amateur (1960). London: Oxford University Press.
• Read, Gardner. Music Notation: A Manual of Modern Practice (1969). Boston: Alleyn and Bacon, Inc..
• Wright, Peter. Alla breve (2001). London: Macmillan Publishers.