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In Bartok's Microcosmos Book 1, Number 9, I found these notes floating between the staves, without any lines.

enter image description here

What do they mean? What notes are supposed to be played?

Neins
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  • I remember seeing similar notation in Boosey & Hawkes condensed scores corresponding to unpitched percussion parts. – Dekkadeci Feb 12 '22 at 14:06

1 Answers1

9

There is a footnote at the bottom of that image but it's in Russian.

The english translation in my version of this book (which lists this piece as 9. Syncopation 1) says:

  1. The rhythmic feeling of the suspensions should be emphazised by some energetic movement such as tapping with the foot in the places marked by rhythmic signatures between the staves.

So, just tap your foot for these beats.

Elements in Space
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    In fact the Russian footnote in OP’s excerpt is much less informative: it just says “The asterisk by this piece’s number indicates that it has an author’s note at the end of the volume *(editor’s note)*.” – PLL Feb 12 '22 at 23:21
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    @PLL * footnote: there is a footnote later in the book, about a note you play with your foot. – Elements in Space Feb 13 '22 at 04:03
  • If these are unpitched notes, wouldn't it would be more intuitive to use x-head notes instead? – gidds Feb 13 '22 at 22:55