Chris Bonds: >Pre-Haydn, composers did not use the triplet as a rhythmic figure in >simple duple meter. Check "Sanctus" (Bach's Mass in b minor). It's written in common time signature, but there is a continuous figuration of eight triplets (as in 12/8). The strings draws a figuration of dotted eight + sixteenth, which must be read as a quarter + eight triplet. Pablo Massa [log in to unmask]