Do you think there is a difference between a 4/4 measure which is notated as four 8th note triplets (meaning each triplet is played in the same time as a quarter note) and a 12/8 measure notated with four sets of 8th notes tied together as triplets? Is it played any differently? Can one hear the difference between the two? I know that for the song as a whole, there is a difference between 1-2-3-4 and 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8 within the same time duration and that will sound different.
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One reason I posed the question is when I did a search of sheet music for Row, Row, Row Your Boat, I found versions that are in 2/4, 4/4, 6/8, 12/8. It would be interesting to hear a professional singer sing the song in all the different tempos. (Side note: the reason I was thinking about that particular tune was I thought it would be an easy one to practice triplets ("merrily, merrily, merrily") and maybe even clawhammer).