Brammer 1

Bailey Brammer
Mrs. Wallach
AP Language and Composition
September 8, 2014
Rhythm
While the word "rhythm" can be defined as "a pattern of regular or irregular pulses
caused by the occurrence of strong harmonies and beats," it is essentially much more than just a
beat. Although this definition clearly outlines what rhythm is from a musical perspective, tempos
and beats liter our society. It can be heard on television, in movies, on the radio, in public, in private, in the rev of a car engine or the cry of a child; rhythm is everywhere. Rhythm is the fluidity
of a ballet dancer's impeccable pirouette and the rough cadence of a rapper rhyming about real
life issues. Rhythm is the tap-tap of someone's foot as they wait anxiously for their loved ones to
get home and the pitter-patter of raindrops blanketing the world in wet. Ultimately, rhythm is
present in every aspect of human life and has been since the Renaissance era. As the word has
evolved through time, so have its definition and the models used to represent what rhythm is and
what it is not.
Initially, the word rhythm originated in the sixteenth century. While the Greek and Latin
philosophers of old spent a good deal of time studying literature and rhymes, their meanings of
the word are not exactly the same as today's. The evolution of rhythm began with the Latin term
rhythums and the Greek word rhythmos, which are both defined as being "a measured flow or
movement." However, modern interpretations of the word have less to do with the flow of something and more to do with its patterned, uniform movements. No doubt, this change and progression has everything to do with the spread of music after the Renaissance period.

Brammer 2
Likewise, as the meaning of rhythm developed over the years, so have the instances in
which it is expressed through music. After the Renaissance era, music began its transformation
with the journey from the Old World to the New World. Over the course of many years, new
forms of dancing and singing sprung up and rhythm changed from an artistic idea to musical necessity. However, it was not until the 1920's that rhythm was redefined due to the creation of
Jazz music. Speakeasies of the time boasted singers, dancers and alcohol; the up-beat tempo sent
"well-respected" gentlemen and ladies into a flurry of limbs on the dance floor. Rhythm was
something one could feel: vibrating through the room, humming with anticipation.
However, it should come as no surprise that when the 1950's rolled around, a new era of
cadence was dawning: the rhythm of rock and roll. "Rhythm is something you either have or
don't have, but when you have it, you have it all over." When Elvis Presley, the "King of Rock,"
said this, he was probably unaware of the fact that he would go on to lead a rhythm revolution,
and introduce the world to a style that had never been heard before. Frenzy ensued and the metronome the world had been keeping time with up until this point was thrown out the window.
Since the 1950's, musical beats have taken on a more modern flavor, and have come to reflect the
styles of adolescents and young adults. However, in the words of singer-songwriter, Jon
McLaughlin, "The mathematics of rhythm are universal. They do not belong to any particular
culture." McLaughlin speaks to the idea that rhythm belongs to everyone, and whether society
takes stock in music or not, the tempo of life is ultimately just as sweet.
Incidentally, music is not the only form of rhythmic expression. Throughout history,
there have been circumstances when musical cadence was all but forgotten, and the rhyme of life
had no choice but to take over. During the Great Depression and the Second World War, different types of rhythm were adopted, such as the jangling of coins being tossed to a poor beggar or

Brammer 3
the perfect tempo to which the young soldiers marched. This can only be because the world was
no longer focused on entertainment, but rather, on simply surviving. Truly, it is in these moments
that rhythm is most prevalent: the tempo that is present is neither loud nor overbearing, but softer
and more gentle. Another instance in which America embraced a slower cadence was September
11, 2001. That day, the sounds that were heard were not musical, they were the sporadic screams
and cries of family members as they realized they would never see their loved ones again. They
were the sounds of the slow, measured drip-drop of teardrops, the crumbling of buildings that
never should have fallen, and the unspoken, unheard formation of a nation united in their terror.
What is more, while rhythm has multiple definitions, there are circumstances in which
something cannot be classified as rhythm. Every sound is rhythm, whether it occurs once or consecutively, randomly or measured. However, any feeling, emotion, or thought is not an example
of rhythm. Thoughts and ideas have no sound, and while they can be expressed in the form of
speaking, they must be voiced in order to be defined as having tempo.
At any rate in today's society, the connotative definitions of many words are often lost in
their dictionary definitions. The word "rhythm" is no exception, because the movement and feel
of the universe is much more than just a beat. Upon examining any word up close, one develops
a connection to its use. While rhythm is something that goes through many days without being
appreciated, there is no doubt in its importance to humanity.