MUSIC THEORY

Chapter 2: Elements of rhythm

RHYTHM
What is rhythm?
The overall time aspect of music How sounds are notated so that they will occur at a predictable moment and in a predetermined pattern

Durational Symbols

Fill in the blank

Durational Symbols
Durations other than the standard models must be demonstrated through the use of ties, dots, and other symbols Tie: a curved line that connects two notes or the same pitch

Dot: always adds half of the value of the note

BEAT and TEMPO

What is the difference?

Beat : Basic pulse of a musical passage Tempo : relative speed of the beats
Composers may use two different ways to indicated tempo and mood.

Tempo Indications
Grave Largo Lento Adagio Andante Moderato Allegretto Allegro Solemn Broad Slow Slow Moderately Slow (walking tempo) Moderate Moderately Fast Fast

Vivace Presto

Lively Very Fast

Meter
What is meter? Meter : the pattern of consistent strong and weak beats What are the most common groups of beats? Measures : the groups of beats Duple, Triple, Quadruple : refer to the number of beats per measure
*Each meter has its own characteristic pattern of stressed beats and weak beats

Meter
Grouping Two-beat measure Three-beat measure Four-beat measure Meter Type Duple Triple Quadruple Metric Accent Pattern Strong-weak Strong-weak-weak Strong-weak-less strong-weak

Marches are generally in ________. Waltzes/Lullabies are in _________. Depending on tempo, meter can be ambiguous.
*Self-test 2-1

Division of the Beat

Beats generally divide into:
two equal parts (simple) or three equal parts (compound) Do not confuse beat type or how the beat divides (simple, compound) with meter type or how the meter divides (duple, triple, etc.)

Beat and Meter Types

Beat Simple Compound Duple Simple Duple Compound Duple Triple Simple Triple Compound Triple Quadruple Simple Quadruple Compound Quadruple

Identify a time signature AND A SONG that corresponds to the description: Simple Duple - ____________ Simple Triple - ____________ Compound Triple - ___________ Compound Quadruple - ___________

Beat and Meter Types

Beat Simple Compound Duple Simple Duple (2/4) Compound Duple (6/8) Triple Simple Triple (3/4) Compound Triple (9/8) Quadruple Simple Quadruple (4/4) Compound Quadruple (12/8)

*Self-test 2-2

Checkpoint
1. How many 16th notes are there in a half note? 2. Two dots following a quarter note add what durations to it? 3. What is the term that refers to the number of beats in a measure? 4. What term refers to the way that the beats divide?

Simple Time Signatures

Time Signature - is a symbol that tells the performer how many beats will occur in each measure and whether the beat is simple or compound Simple time signatures will have 2, 3, 4 Identify the meter/beat of the following tunes:
Jingle Bells America The Beautiful Home on the Range Auld Lang Syne Pop Goes the Weasel Silent Night
*Self test 2-3

Compound Time Signatures

If the beat divides into three equal parts (compound) the note value representing the beat will be dotted.

*Self test 2-4

More on duration symbols

When rhythms are notated, it is customary to use rests, beams, ties and dots in such a way that the metric accent emphasized rather than obscured. It is, however, correct to notate rhythms so as to obscure the metric accent when that is the desired result.
Syncopation: rhythmic figures that stress normally weak beats or divisions
*Self test 2-5 after review

Durational symbols continued

Grouplet: refers to division of an dotted/undotted value into some number of equal parts other than two, four, eight or three, six, nine, etc. Beams: used to connected durations shorter than a quarter note when the durations occur within the same beat

 Self-test 2-5