question about nomenclature.

[arbogast]

Hello.

Say you have a beat (in 4/4) of alternating 16ths alternating between the same two notes. This I've often seen notated like two half notes connected by a 16th beam (typical in piano music). What is this called?

It's obviously a tremolo(ish) effect, but tremolo's often notated differently.


(bonus Q: How do you notate this in Sibelius)

Thanks a lot!

[BertKoor]

I'd call that a very short arpeggio (of just two notes.)

Tremolo has no defined tempo at which the two notes should alternate, you leave that to the interpretation and technical skills of the performer.

Sorry, no idea how to force the joining of sixteenth notes in Sibelius. Maybe select them both and right-click will bring up editing options?

[jancivil]

It's a tremolo. Typically on a piano or mallet percussion rather than the violins et al type, which is on the one note. I would say the two notes-type differs from a trill in intent: the two notes equal as opposed to a trill where one note is the 'real note' and the other a series of graces to it.

'arpeggio' will be inaccurate/misleading.

[Nickel Smith]

It's a tremolo, a short-hand for writing a lot of dense 16th notes on the page. I don't have Sibelius loaded but it's in the manual, fairly straightforward. I don't know what version you have.