AoS1 - Rhythm and Metre Flashcards
What is a pulse?
A beat - can be slow or fast
What is simple and compound time?
Simple is a time signature where the bottom number is a 4 whereas compound time is a time signature where the bottom number is an 8
What is meant by
a) regular?
b) irregular?
c) free time?
a) Top number can be divided
b) Top number cannot be divided
c) Rubato feel, no set time
What is meant by
a) augmentation?
b) diminution?
c) hemiola?
d) cross-rhythm?
a) notes get longer
b) notes get shorter
c) 3-against-2 feel
d) 2 different rhythms played at the same time that conflict
What are/is
a) dotted rhythms?
b) triplets?
c) syncopation?
a)
b) 3 notes in the space of 2
c) off-beat rhythm
What is
a) tempo?
b) rubato?
a) speed of music
b) no set tempo, played freely
What is
a) polyrhythm?
b) bi-rhythm?
a) 2 or more rhythms played at the same time
b) 2 rhythms played exactly
What is tempo?
Speed of the music
How is tempo measured?
In beats per minute (bpm)
What does bpm stand for?
Beats per minute
What can bpm be used to measure?
Tempo
In reference to tempo, what is the meaning of ‘presto’?
very fast
In reference to tempo, what is the meaning of ‘vivace’?
fast and lively
In reference to tempo, what is the meaning of ‘allegro’?
fast, quickly and bright
In reference to tempo, what is the meaning of ‘moderato’?
moderately
In reference to tempo, what is the meaning of ‘andante’?
walking pace
In reference to tempo, what is the meaning of ‘adagio’?
Slow
In reference to tempo, what is the meaning of ‘largo’?
very slow
If the term ‘rubato’ is written in the music, what is the performer able to do whilst playing the music?
Make changes to tempo in response to the way the music makes them feel
In response to the way music makes a performer feel, the performer may want to slow down or speed up. What is this called?
Playing in rubato style
What is the meaning of ‘rubato’?
No strict tempo
What is ‘polyrhythmic’?
When 2 or more rhythms are being played at the same time
Give an example of a genre in music that is often polyrhythmic.
African music (world music)
What is ‘bi-rhythmic’?
2 rhythms played at the same time
What are cross-rhythms?
When two different rhythms are played together at the same time, that usually conflict with one another. it is common in African music
What are drum fills used for?
Building the music up, or to change within sections (i.e. verse to chorus)
What is syncopation?
off-beat rhythm
Name 4 different types of rhythm.
- Syncopation (off-beat)
- Free rhythm
- Dotted rhythm
- Triplet (three notes in the space of 2)
What is a triplet rhythm?
3 notes in the space of 2
Name 3 types of rhythmic devices.
- Diminution
- Hemiola
- Augmentation
What is augmentation?
Notes get longer
What is diminution?
When notes get shorter
What is diminution the opposite of?
Augmentation
What is augmentation the opposite of?
Diminution
What is a hemiola?
3-against-2 feel
Give 4 types of time signatures.
- Irregular
- Regular
- Simple
- Compound
What is irregular time?
When the top number of the time signature can’t be divided
What is regular time?
When the top number of the time signature can be divided
What is simple time?
When the main beat can be divided into 2
What is compound time?
When the main beat can be divided into 3
Give some examples of simple time signatures.
- 2/4
- 3/4
- 4/4
Give some examples of compound time signatures.
- 6/8
- 9/8
- 12/8
Give some examples of regular time signatures.
- 2/4
- 4/4
- 12/8
- 6/8
- 3/4
Give some examples of irregular time signatures.
- 7/8
- 5/4
- 9/8
What is a rallentando?
To slow down
What is the opposite of a rallentando?
Accelerado
What is an accelerando?
To speed up
What is the opposite of accelerando?
Rallentando
Give 3 examples of layering techniques.
- Polyrhythms
- Cross-rhythms
- Bi-rhythmic
What is bi-rhythmic?
Exactly 2 rhythms being played at the same time (no more than 2 or less than 2)
What are cross-rhythms?
2 different rhythms played together at the same time that conflict/don’t match
What are polyrhythms?
2 or more rhythms played at the same time.
