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Rhythm

Rhythm is the flow of music through time

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BeatBeats are a regular, recurrent pulsations

that divide music into equal units of time

Beats form the background to which a composer places notes of varying lengths

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BeatBeats are basic units of time by which all

notes are measured

A note may last a fraction of a beat, an entire beat, or more than one beat

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MeterThe organization of beats into regular

groups is called metermeter

A group containing a fixed number of beats is called a measuremeasure

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MeterThere are several types of meter (which

are based on the number of beats per measure) Duple Meter- 2 beats per measure Triple Meter- 3 beats per measure Quadruple Meter- 4 beats per measure

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MeterThere are more obscure types of meter:

Quintuple Meter- 5 beats per measure Sextuple Meter- 6 beats per measure Septuple Meter- 7 beats per measure

These types of meter are used in more advanced compositions

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AccentAn important aspect of rhythm is the way

individual notes are stressed

Playing a note louder than the notes around it is called an accent

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SyncopationSyncopation is when an accented note

comes when we are not expecting it

Syncopation is a characteristic of jazz

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TempoThe speed of the beat is known as tempo

Fast tempos are associated with a feeling of energy and drive

Slow tempos contribute to solemn, lyrical or calm moods

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Tempo IndicationsLargo- very slowGrave- very slow

solemnAdagio- slowAndante- moderately

slow, a walking paceModerato- moderate

Allegretto- moderately fast

Allegro- fastVivace- livelyPresto- very fastPrestissimo- as fast

as possible

Tempo markings are approximate indications of what how a composer wants his music to be played.

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Changes in TempoThe same tempo is not always used

throughout the pieceA gradual quickening of pace is called an

accelerando

A gradual slowing of tempo is called a ritardando

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MetronomeSince about 1816, composers have been

able to give exact tempo indications with the use of a metronome.

A metronome is a device that produces ticking noises or flashes of light at any desired musical speed.

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George Gershwin (1898-1937)

I Got Rhythm (1930) Pervasive syncopations give a jazzy feeling

to the song. In the opening rhythmic pattern to the words

“I got rhythm”, a syncopation occurs on the word “I”.

This song is written in duple meter, two beats per measure.

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George Gershwin (1898-1937)

I Got Rhythm (1930) Pervasive syncopations give a jazzy feeling

to the song. In the opening rhythmic pattern to the words

“I got rhythm”, a syncopation occurs on the word “I”.

This song is written in duple meter, two beats per measure.

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Dave Brubeck (1920- )Unsquare Dance (1961)

This song is in septuple meter, 7 beats per measure

The septuple meter can be divided into 2 groups of 2 beats and 1 group of 3 beats. (1-2, 1-2, 1-2-3) instead of 1-2-3-4-5-6-7.

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Dave Brubeck (1920- )Unsquare Dance (1961)

This song is in septuple meter, 7 beats per measure

The septuple meter can be divided into 2 groups of 2 beats and 1 group of 3 beats. (1-2, 1-2, 1-2-3) instead of 1-2-3-4-5-6-7.