unit 2 – rhythm, meter & metric organization mr. jackson music theory v

Unit 2 – Rhythm, Meter & Metric

Organization

Mr. JacksonMusic Theory

Notating Rhythm

Notating Rhythm

Notating RhythmIntroduction 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

Notating RhythmThe 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.

Metric OrganizationDefinitions

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

Metric OrganizationMeter 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

STRONGweak]

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 TWO

parts

TOP NUMBER of TIME SIGNATURE = 6, 8, or 12

Metric OrganizationSimple Meter

Metric OrganizationCompound Meter

Metric OrganizationCompound Meter

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

Metric OrganizationCompound 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.

MeterSyncopation

Syncopation– Occurs when the emphasis or stress is in –between the

beats or on a normally weak beat.

MeterSyncopation (Cont..)

Syncopation can also involve TIES!

MeterTriplets & Duplets

Duplet– Divides a regular duration into three

* In “Compound Time” using Duples – * In “Compound Time” using Duples –

You are kind of “borrowing” from a You are kind of “borrowing” from a

Simple Feel!Simple Feel!

Triplet– Divides a regular duration into three

* In “Simple Time” using Triplets -- You are kind of “borrowing” from a * In “Simple Time” using Triplets -- You are kind of “borrowing” from a

Compound Feel!Compound Feel!

MeterDownbeats & Upbeats

Downbeat– The first beat of the measure.

Anacrusis– Notes that precede the first beat.

Metric OrganizationAsymmetrical 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?

MeterHemiola

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).

MeterHemiola

Although we have Although we have 33 beats per measure – Schubert constantly uses TIES to beats per measure – Schubert constantly uses TIES to create create 22 beats all over the place! What’s up with that?! beats all over the place! What’s up with that?!

Etc..