Unit 2 – Rhythm, Meter & Metric Organization V Unit 2 – Rhythm, Meter & Metric Organization Mr. Jackson AP Music Theory

V Notating Rhythm

V Notating Rhythm

V Notating Rhythm Introduction Music is sound and silence in time. Western Music Notation shows how long one note lasts in relation to others. Time Signatures specify how many beats are in each measure and which note value constitutes one beat. The TOP number tells you how many beats are in a measure The BOTTOM number tells you which note gets one beat

V Notating Rhythm The Dot and the Tie The Dot extends the value of a SINGLE note by one-half of its original value. The Tie combines the durational values of two or more notes of the same pitch using a curved line.

V Metric Organization Definitions Duration – The Length of time sound (or silence) occurs Beat – A regular, recurring pulsation that divides music into units of time Meter– The organization of beats into regular groups of TWO, THREE, and FOUR (usually with strong and weak beats) and how the beat is subdivided Subdivision– The division of the beat into two or three equal parts Rhythm– Series of durations, often varying, of sound and silence Tempo– The speed of the beat

V Metric Organization Meter Duple – Two beats per measure [ STRONG weak] TOP NUMBER of TIME SIGNATURE = 2 or 6 Triple– Three beats per measure [ STRONG weak weak] TOP NUMBER of TIME SIGNATURE = 3 or 9 Quadruple– Four beats per measure [ STRONG weak LESS STRONG weak] TOP NUMBER of TIME SIGNATURE = 4 or 12 Simple Meter– refers to the beat being divided equally into TWO parts TOP NUMBER of TIME SIGNATURE = 2, 3, 4 Compound Meter– refers to the beat being divided equally into THREE parts TOP NUMBER of TIME SIGNATURE = 6, 8, or 12

V Metric Organization Simple Meter

V Metric Organization Compound Meter

V Metric Organization Compound Meter Compound or not Compound? That is the question… To check: Divide the TOP NUMBER of the time signature by 3. If your answer is a whole number greater than 1 – you are in a Compound Meter. Pretty cool, huh?

V Metric Organization Compound Meter For Compound Meter– BE CAREFUL when defining the BEAT! For 6/8 – We usually consider each measure having 2 Beats – NOT 6 as many people assume based on defining Time Signatures.

V Meter Syncopation Syncopation– Occurs when the emphasis or stress is in –between the beats or on a normally weak beat.

V Meter Syncopation (Cont..) Syncopation can also involve TIES!

V Meter Triplets & Duplets Triplet– Divides a regular duration into three * In “Simple Time” using Triplets -- You are kind of “borrowing” from a Compound Feel! Duplet– Divides a regular duration into three * In “Compound Time” using Duples – You are kind of “borrowing” from a Simple Feel!

V Meter Downbeats & Upbeats Downbeat– The first beat of the measure. Anacrusis– Notes that precede the first beat.

V Metric Organization Asymmetrical Meters Asymmetrical – means NOT symmetrical or NOT equal. Asymmetrical Meters have beat units of UNEQUAL LENGTH. ** The most common asymmetrical meters have 5 or 7 as the top number!** In 5/8 – you could break it down a few different ways (3+2 or 2+3) What about this one?

V Meter Hemiola Hemiola– (sometimes called CROSS RHYTHM) – is a metric device where the rhythmic relation of three notes occurs in the time of two. It consists of super-imposing two notes in the time of three (duplet), or three in the time of two (triplet).

V Meter Hemiola Although we have 3 beats per measure – Schubert constantly uses TIES to create 2 beats all over the place! What’s up with that?!  Etc..