1. Music’s Temporal Dimension:
Pulse, Meter, Rhythm & Tempo
Pachelbel Rant

2. I. Preliminaries: Music Unfolds in Time
A. ∴ ephemeral

4. I. Preliminaries: Music Unfolds in Time
A. ∴ ephemeral
∴ shape of a musical work not given
“all at once”

6. I. Preliminaries: Music Unfolds in Time
A. ∴ ephemeral
∴ shape of a musical work not given
“all at once”
Musical time does not = real time or
clock time

8. I. Preliminaries: Music Unfolds in Time
A. ∴ ephemeral
∴ shape of a musical work not given
“all at once”
Musical time does not = real time or
clock time

9. Pulse or Beat (Textbook) Beat = an even pulse that divides time
into equal segments
B. Beat = aural sense, based on many factors, that music is made up of equal time units

11. Pulse or Beat
(Textbook) Beat = an even pulse that divides time
into equal segments
B. Beat = aural sense, based on many factors, that music is made up of equal time units
III. Meter
A. Meter= grouping of pulses into
larger units (usually 2, 3, 4, or 6)
B. metrical groupings = bars or measures
C. meters classified duple, triple, quadruple, sextuple
D. irregular (mixed) meters possible (3+3+2)
E. temporary disruptions in meter common

12. Phrase I Phrase II
Triple
Duple
Triple

13. IV. Rhythm Rhythm Pulse Meter A. Loose or general meaning
=everything having to do with music’s temporal aspect
B. Specific meaning
=DURATION,
Specific arrangement of note lengths
C. Music’s temporal elements are hierarchical
Rhythm
Pulse
Meter

14. IV. Rhythm (cont.) V. Tempo D. Rhythmic motive
Rhythmic idea (durations) that acquires
structural significance
V. Tempo
A. = SPEED (of pulses)

15. Which Statement is most accurate?
The speed of the pulses increased.
The tempo increased.
The rhythmic activity increased.
The meter increased.

16. VI. Two Special Cases A. Compound Meter B. Rubato
Pulses subdivided into 3’s rather than 2’s
B. Rubato
It., “robbed time”
Speeding or slowing of pulses for expressive
effect (added by performers)