What is cut time in music theory?

Cut time or Alla Breve is a musical time signature that indicates that each measure counts as two quarter notes. It is notated with a large "C", with a vertical line drawn through the middle. Cut time is often used in march and military music, as well as in Baroque music.

In Common Time (4/4), a whole note takes up the full measure. A half note lasts two beats, a quarter note gets one beat, an eighth note gets half a beat, and so on.

In Cut Time (2/2), the half note gets the whole measure. Quarters get one beat, eighth notes get half a beat, and so on.

In theory:

- Common Time (4/4): 1 whole note = 2 half notes = 4 quarter notes = 8 eighth notes = 16 sixteenth notes = 32 thirty-second notes = 64 sixty-fourth notes

- Cut Time (2/2): 1 whole note = 2 half notes = 4 quarter notes = 8 eighth notes = 16 sixteenth notes = 32 thirty-second notes = 64 sixty-fourth notes

In practice, 4/4 is often felt with 4 distinct beats in a bar, while cut time is often felt with 2 distinct beats in a bar.