Crumb's unique rhythms

[OCTO]

Yesterday I was serving as a producer on recording of Crumb's Quest.
Interesting notations: in both cases there are note-values that cover the whole measure, impossible in the traditional notation.
First, a dot on the opposite side, in 5 / :

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Second, multiple dots in 15 /

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[wess-music]

First one I find very cool!
OCTO, you make me smile! Sincerely.

Thank you.

[David Ward]

Triple dots can be found in Bruckner, although always followed in the bar by the short note to even things up. Usually a triple-dotted minim (1/2) = one and 7/8 minim, followed by a semiquaver (1/16) = the remaining 1/8 of the minim &c.

Crumb seems to be following the same principle with his triple dots after the note, but without the following short note because of his 15/x time signature.

[John Ruggero]

OMG! He's adding on one side of the chord and subtracting on the other. Only Crumb would come up with this.

I've never seen the bracket-like beaming at the end of the second example before. This is a very creative and interesting way to show a syncopation. Is this common now?

The triple dots of the second example are not common, but Chopin has a few and probably many others too. But I have never seen one fill out a whole measure before. If Zeno had been a musician, his paradox would have read "How many dots must one add to a single half note to fill a complete 4/4 measure."

A good case could be made for a new kind of note that fills out an entire measure of any meter, corresponding to a "whole measure rest".

[David Ward]

A good case could be made for a new kind of note that fills out an entire measure of any meter, corresponding to a "whole measure rest".

Definitely.

[John Ruggero]

But why not:

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In the second example, make it a whole note with a tie with or without an l. v. and everyone will understand. Or make it a double whole note. Will anyone complain?

[David Ward]

That might work for pianists, but what about some notation that would be clear in single line orchestral parts as “a new kind of note …” as you suggested above?

[MJCube]

He's adding on one side of the chord and subtracting on the other.

Brilliant!! And why did I never think of this? It’s compact, perfectly clear, and the principle could be extensible to other durations.

[RMK]

Keep in mind that Crumb worked as a copyist for quite a while. His autography is beautiful - suitable for framing.

The music isn't bad, either...

[David Ward]

Or make it a double whole note. Will anyone complain?

A breve (ie double whole note) is perhaps the most traditional-seeming answer that ought to fit most situations, if not as elegant as Crumb's before & after (or multiple) dots.