Arrangement Question

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I have a piece of sheet music in which the same key in the treble & bass clefs is supposed played at the same time (see example below). This occurs numerous times in the piece. I find this confusing. Why was this written this way? How should this be played? Thank you so much for your help.
 

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Look! Here are sheets for organ and the same for piano. Sheet for organ looks more clear :) May be your half-note G is for pedal keyboard?
 

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I've seen this before with piano music, although it's not common. Notice that the G notes are not written the same way. The treble note is held longer than the bass note. Even though they're the same note, the phrasing in each hand will be different. The composer wants the bass notes to be articulated as one phrase, while the sustained G in the treble is meant to act as harmony for the treble phrase. The difference is very subtle but I believe that's what the composer intended. Hope this helps.
 
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I've seen this before with piano music, although it's not common. Notice that the G notes are not written the same way. The treble note is held longer than the bass note. Even though they're the same note, the phrasing in each hand will be different. The composer wants the bass notes to be articulated as one phrase, while the sustained G in the treble is meant to act as harmony for the treble phrase. The difference is very subtle but I believe that's what the composer intended. Hope this helps.
soot29: Ah, I think that you are absolutely right. In the piece that I am referring to, this is predominantly with the G note (although there are a couple of instances where the C note & the F note are written the same way. Thank you so much!

BTW, How is this intended to be played?
 
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BTW, How is this intended to be played?
It wouldn't be a problem to play it as written on an organ where there are at least two manuals. However, the only way I can see to play this on a single keyboard would be to either play the treble notes an octave higher or the bass notes an octave lower. Not ideal but the only other option would be to ignore one of the written notes when you have the duplication scenario. Would anyone actually notice?
 
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soot29: Ah, I think that you are absolutely right. In the piece that I am referring to, this is predominantly with the G note (although there are a couple of instances where the C note & the F note are written the same way. Thank you so much!

BTW, How is this intended to be played?
Well, you're only playing the G note with your right hand and holding it longer. You aren't actually playing the G note with your left hand. The key is the phrasing. The composer is trying to tell you how to phrase the right hand and the left hand. Even though your only playing one note in the bass, he wants you to phrase it as if the G was the first note in a two-note phrase. As I said, this is a very subtle nuance in playing, but that's what the composer is trying to convey.
 
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Well, you're only playing the G note with your right hand and holding it longer. You aren't actually playing the G note with your left hand. The key is the phrasing. The composer is trying to tell you how to phrase the right hand and the left hand. Even though your only playing one note in the bass, he wants you to phrase it as if the G was the first note in a two-note phrase. As I said, this is a very subtle nuance in playing, but that's what the composer is trying to convey.
Would it not be less confusing if a quaver rest was just shown instead of the G note for the left hand?
 
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Would it not be less confusing if a quaver rest was just shown instead of the G note for the left hand?
A) I don't think it's confusing. You're clearly not used to seeing this. But it's hardly unheard-of.
B) I'm not advocating this approach as the best. I'm simply saying this type of notation isn't completely unusual and it's how some composers have conveyed this approach to phrasing for quite some time.
 
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Yes, you are correct - I'm definitely not used to seeing it and neither is the OP or it would not have been questioned in the first place.
I'm not trying to argue against your explanation but it just seems, to me at least, a bit pointless to show a note for both hands that is only going to be played by one.
 

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