Compound Meters Week 1.5

Vocabulary

Syncopation in compound meters

Triplets Imposing compound meter rhythm into simple meter In a simple meter, the beat occasionally divides into three parts Beats are marked with a 3 and the syllables said are borrowed from compound meter (1 la li)

Triplet motive developed in accompaniment (piano) Triplet is as the 16th note (divides the 8th note, the division); fast triplets create the effect of the rustling of the Linden tree.

When notating triplets, use a note that is one level smaller than the beat unit Ex: Eighth note triplet replaces a single quarter note

Polyrhythm: juxtaposition of two different beat units

Duplets and Quadruplets can be seen in simple triple meters as well, but at the level of the measure rather than the beat. *Notated with a bracket and a 2 *Temporarily shifts the meter from triple to duple

Hemiola The beat unit is divided into three parts Rather than grouping the divisions in three, temporarily group the divisions into twos.

Metrical Accent NOT ALL NOTES ARE EQUAL Metric hierarchy allows the performer to make decisions about how the line is shaped The notation does not have to be super rigid Playing with the tempo to shape the line is called rubato. The performer takes liberties with the tempo to create a musical effect **Meter implies accent patterns that are identical in both simple and compound: -Duple: Strong-weak -Triple: Strong-weaker-weakest -Quadruple: strong-weak-medium-weak 1. Hypermeasure 2. Measure 3. Half-measure 4. Beat 5. Division