MMario

Vocal scores will often show same notes tied when different lengths are used with the words in different verses (eg A-A for in the in one verse, but A2 for while in another, notated as A-A in the score).

Common time and 4/4 are equivalent. Alla breve has a 2 beat to the bar feel rather than a 4 beat feel.

8/8 is used often when the music has irregular 1/8 note beat patterns within the bar (eg AAA AAA AA) and often changing from bar to bar.

Mick