JAVS Spring 2026

Figure 1. The Exterminating Angel by Thomas Adès, Libretto, mm. 388-395.

For time signatures with 4/6 and 5/12, the lower number indicates the number of equal divisions of the whole note. Time signatures with /6 indicate quantities of single triplet quarter-note subdivisions of the bar; /12 indicate quantities of single triplet eighth-note subdivisions of the bar. The upper number indicates the quantity of these values. 13

Adès’ Metric Notation and Compositional Intent In Berceuse no. 2 for viola, mm. 25–31 retain the same shifting meters found in the opera. Examining the vocal text alongside Adès’s performance instructions helps clarify how the 1/6 measures function within this passage. Adès explains

Journal of the American Viola Society / Vol. 42, No. 1, Spring 2026

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