Twelve-eight time
Twelve eighths per bar in four groups of three; the tripleted form of four-four time.
What it means
Twelve-eight time contains twelve eighths per bar, ordered into four groups of three each. The actual beat is therefore the dotted quarter: the bar has four beats, and each of them is subdivided into three. It belongs among the compound time signatures.
Its close relative is four-four time. Both have four beats with the same accent pattern — one heavy, three medium-heavy, two and four light. The difference lies solely in the subdivision: in four-four time each beat falls into two eighths, in twelve-eight time into three. Twelve-eight time can therefore be understood as the tripleted form of four-four time. Music that would be notated throughout in triplets in four-four time is often written more clearly in twelve-eight time.
Among the compound time signatures, it is the four-beat counterpart to the two-beat six-eight time and the three-beat nine-eight time.
In the notation
The time signature 12/8 stands at the beginning of the line. The beaming groups the eighths into four groups of three and makes the structure visible. A full bar is filled by four dotted quarters, two dotted halves, or a dotted whole note. Metronome markings as a rule refer to the dotted quarter.
Musical use
The metre is found in calmly flowing movements of a rocking character, in pastorales and barcarolles, in slow Baroque movements, and in chorale arrangements with a continuous triple movement. It is likewise widespread in blues, soul, and rock ballads: the feel typical there of four slow beats with a triple subdivision is often notated in twelve-eight time.
It is conducted in four beats. In slow blues and in soul ballads it is widespread as tripleted four-four time. It is counted in four dotted quarters.
Performance practice
Count in four beats, not in twelve, as soon as the tempo allows it. Keep the three eighths of each group even; the middle one easily becomes too short. Transfer the accent pattern of four-four time: the one carries, the three somewhat less, two and four stay light. It is related to 4/4 time in triplets.