Area of Study 01: Rhythm and Metre AQA GCSE Music

Areas of Study AoS 01: Rhythm and Metre AoS 02: Harmony and Tonality A0S 03: Texture and Melody AoS 04: Dynamics and Timbre AoS 05: Structure and Form

This is all about beats, timing and sound patterns Rhythm and Metre This is all about beats, timing and sound patterns Metre – This is a regular pattern of beats in every bar, indicated by a time signature Rhythm – is the way different lengths of sound are combined to produce patterns in time.

Rhythm - Back to Basics = 4 beats = 1 beat Semibreve Crotchet or Minim Quaver 2 Quavers

Dotted Notes Adds half as much again to the length of the note Add a Dot = 1 ½ beats = 1 beat Dotted Crotchet Crotchet Add a Dot = 2 beats = 3 beats Minim Dotted Minim

Time Signatures This shows us how many beats there are in a bar TOP NUMBER – tells you how many beats there are in a bar BOTTOM NUMBER – tells you how long each beat is worth

Time Signatures – The bottom number 2 3 4 6 8 A 2 at the bottom means each beat is worth 1 minim A 4 at the bottom means each beat is worth 1 crotchet An 8 at the bottom means each beat is worth 1 quaver

Time Signatures cont. 4 x Beats every bar Main beat of the bar

Simple Time 2 4 3 4 4 Examples of Simple Time Signatures are; 2 types of Time Signature Examples of Simple Time Signatures are; 2 4 3 4 4

Compound Time 2 types of Time Signature Compound time signature have 6, 9 or 12 as their top number 6/8 Time signature has a feeling of 2 & 3 Music in these time signatures feel as though they have a main beat, which divide into 3. Main Beat Main Beat Main Beat Main Beat Main Beat

Regular and Irregular Regular Time Signatures are when the beats in a bar can be grouped e.g. 2/4, 6/8 (2 beats per bar) DUPLE 3/4, 9/8 (3 beats per bar) TRIPLE 4/4, 12/8 (4 beats per bar) QUADRUPLE Irregular Time Signatures are when the beats can not be grouped as above e.g 5/4 – 5 beats in a bar would have to be grouped as a 2 and 3 Track 02 Listen to the Example: The Time Signature is 5/4. It sounds like there is one group of 3 then one group of 2 (irregular)

Listening Tests What is the time signature? (Q1) The piece is in 4/4 time how many bars introduction is there? (Q16) Which rhythm matches the bass drum rhythm? (Q27) (ii) (iii) (iv)

Syncopation Rhythmic Device A ‘stress’ on a normaly un-stressed note – gives an off beat feel. Often in jazz and pop music. Listen to the Example: The guitar riff is syncopated

Syncopation 2 Syncopation can be added purely through the use of accents on the weaker beat of the bar.

Star Wars

Hemiola A Hemiola rhythm has a ‘three against two’ feel. Rhythmic Device A Hemiola rhythm has a ‘three against two’ feel. For example, in this 3/4 rhythm there is a hemiola in the last two bars, giving the impression of three minim beats in the two bars of 3/4 time. Hemiola

Listening Tests - 2 What is the time signature? (Q2) Listen to Stevie Wonders version of Blowin’ in the wind’ and comment on rhythm & Metre. (Q24)

Augmentation Rhythmic Device This is where a melody or series of notes is repeated using notes of a longer duration. For example, a melody with the rhythm of: Original Notes are doubled in length Augmentation

Diminution This is the opposite to Augmentation. Rhythmic Device This is the opposite to Augmentation. The rhythm of the melody is half the length Original Diminution

Polyrhythms When two or more rhythms are played at the same time. Rhythmic Device When two or more rhythms are played at the same time. The rhythms may have accents in different places, but still feel as though they fit together. Lots of African music is polyrhythmic Look at the example on the next slide.

Bi-Rhythms Rhythmic Device Time signatures can be split up into different patterns of beats. E.g. 3/4 can be divided into 3 groups of two quavers or 2 groups of three quavers 01 02

Listening Tests - 3 What is the time signature? (Q13) 12/8 9/8 4/4 2/4 12/8 9/8 4/4 2/4 Name the rhythmic device heard in the melody (Q28) On which beats of the bar does the rhythm guitar play? (Q29)

Tempo Tempo simply refers to the speed of the music It can measured in 'beats per minute’ (bpm) E.g. Tempo: = 120 The speed can also be indicated by an Italian word 120 crotchet beats every minute

Tempo – Italian words Presto = Very fast Vivace = Fast and lively Allegro = Fast, quickly and bright Moderato = Moderately Andante = Walking pace Adagio = Slow Largo = Very Slow

Rubato If this is written in the music, the performer is able to make changes to the tempo. In response to the way the music makes them feel, the performer may want to slow down or speed up. It indicates there is no strict tempo

Listening Tests - 4 What is the time signature? (Q11) 12/8 9/8 4/4 2/4 12/8 9/8 4/4 2/4 What is the note value of the tambourines rhythm?(Q29) Crotchet minim quaver semiquaver Which tempo marking best suits this melody? (Q9) Allegro Poco Adagio Rhubato Vivace