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What do the diagonal lines in the bass in these two measures mean?

http://www.pianoworld.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showpic&id=5709

I'm just spit ballin' here but could it be a gliss?

Kurt

They are meant to indicate that the two notes are part of the same melodic line, so that the pianist isn't confused by the direction of the stems (which normally would be pointing in the same direction, when the notes are part of the same 'voice').

Obviously, if they were eighth notes, they would be joined together, obviating the need for that line.

Could it be a misprinted octave tremolo?
EDIT I just realized you kindly retyped this example to show it to the forum. Octave tremolos are often shown in diagonal lines like this. The number of diagonal lines indicates the speed of the tremolo. One line = eighth note tremolo, two lines = 16th note tremolo etc.

You can see how a tremolo is notated here, measures 13 and 21. From hreichgott's description this would be a 32nd tremolo, but all I can say is it is darn fast.

From my experience this could be eighter indication of melodic line or glissando but sometimes scores are strange

To be sure of knowing what is intended here, more details are needed:

- Where does the example come from? (piece? composer? period?)
- Is this an original piano piece or an arrangement?

It's bars 16 and 17 of "La Marseillaise" by J-C Rouget de Lisle, 1792. (Actually I was expecting that someone would figure it out from the treble line in those two bars.) The same thin line notation is in a couple PDF's that I found using Google.

I think Heather likely has the right answer. I tried eighth note tremolo, it certainly works musically that way. It's just that the lines in the PDF are thin rather than thick.

I was surprised how free form it is, 29 bars, with a 7 bar minor bridge. It's not a piece I gave much thought until recently....

Ah yes: it is from one of the many arrangements of the Marseillaise. It's a tremolo, but incorrectly notated. The correct notation of this tremolo can be seen here:

Marseillaise score page 2

Note that there are three parallel diagonal lines, not just one, and that each note of the tremolo is written as a whole note: for a tremolo between two notes, each of the notes should be notated with the full duration of the tremolo.

It's clear that this tremolo is an imitation of an orchestral effect (imagine a timpani roll). It is not meant to played as actual 32nd notes, just as fast as is possible (or comfortable!).