Massima

A maxima, duplex longa, larga, or octuple whole note was a musical note used commonly in thirteenth and fourteenth century music and occasionally until the end of the sixteenth century. It was usually twice or, rarely, three times as long as a longa, usually four or six or nine times as long as a breve, usually 8, 12, or 18, or, rarely, 27 times as long as a semibreve, and usually 16, 24, 36, or 54 or, rarely, 81 times as long as a minim. Like the stem of the longa, the stem of the maxima generally pointed downwards except occasionally when it appeared on the bottom line or space. Before around 1430, the maxima was written with a solid, black body. Over the course of the fifteenth century, like most other note values, the head of the maxima became void.

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