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1.41 breve

• US: breve, double-whole note,
• ES: cuadrada, breve,
• I: breve,
• F: brève,
• D: Brevis,
• NL: brevis,
• DK: brevis,
• S: brevis,
• FI: brevis, kaksoiskokonuotti.

Note value twice as long as a whole note. Mainly used in pre-1650 music. The shortest note value generally used in white mensural notation, hence the name, which originally meant ‘of short duration’.

See also

mensural notation, note value.

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