A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Long

LONG (Lat. Longa, Notula caudata). A note, intermediate in value between the Large and the Breve. In Plain Chaunt, the Long appears as a square black note, with a tail, which may either ascend, or descend, on either side. In Polyphonic Music, it is figured as a square white note, with a tail descending on the right. In this case, the position of the tail is important: for, though it is sometimes, in modern music, made to ascend, it can only be transferred to the left hand side in Ligatures, when it materially affects the duration of the note. [See Ligature.]

The Long represents one third of the Perfect Large, and half of the Imperfect. [See Large.] Its duration, in the Lesser Mode Perfect, is equal to that of three Breves: in the Lesser Mode Imperfect, to that of two. [See Mode.] Its corresponding Rest is drawn, when Perfect, across three spaces; when Imperfect, across two only.

In Plain Chaunt, it is longer than the Breve, but not in any definite proportion, except in Ligatures, where it represents a Breve and a half, or three Semibreves. Merbecke, in his 'Booke of Common Praier Noted' (1550) calls it a 'Close,' and uses it only at the end of a verse: but this restriction is not usual in Plain Chaunt Office-Books.

[ W. S. R. ]