Breve
(BREH-vay)


[Lat., short]


  1. The modern term for brevis. From 13th century mensural notation, the breve indicates a note of the shortest duration.

    See brevis.

  2. In modern notation, the breve is the British and Italian terms for double whole note.

    See also [Am.] Double whole note, [Fr.] Double-ronde, [Ger.] Doppelganze, [Ger.] Doppelganzenote, [It.] Breve, [Sp.] Cuadrada, [Sp.] Doble Redonda.


Breve

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