maatstreep

The maatstreep, also known as a bar line, is a vertical line drawn through the staff in musical notation. Its primary function is to divide music into measures or bars. A measure is a segment of time defined by a given number of beats, as indicated by the time signature. The maatstreep clearly delineates the beginning and end of each measure, aiding in the organization and readability of a musical composition.

There are several types of maatstreep. A single maatstreep is the most common, simply separating one measure from the next. A double maatstreep consists of two thin vertical lines and often signifies the end of a section or a change in key or tempo. A final maatstreep, composed of a thin line followed by a thick line, indicates the absolute end of a piece of music. Repeat maatstreep marks, which are double maatstreep with two dots, indicate that the section of music between the repeat signs should be played again. The placement and type of maatstreep are crucial for performers to accurately interpret and execute a piece of music.