Compound meters study guide

Question 1

When reading a compound meter signature, how do you determine a beat unit?

Answer 1

Add three of the note values together in lower number of Time Signature to get the beat unit, which will always be dotted note

Question 2

What guidelines should you follow in beaming rhythms together? What makes this difficult when the dotted half note is the beat unit

Answer 2

Beamed to reflect the beat uit. Difficult because quarter notes are not beamed as eight notes

Question 3

An expressive device. Making the established pulse flexible by accelerating and slowing down the tempo

Answer 3

Rubato

Question 4

Meter with four beats per measure, subdivided by three

Answer 4

Compound quadruple

Question 5

The juxtaposition of two beat divisions - three in one and against four in the other hand

Answer 5

Polyrhythm

Question 6

In compound time, a subdivision group borrowed from simple time

Answer 6

Quadruplet

Question 7

Meter with three beats per measure, subdivided by three

Answer 7

Compound triple

Question 8

Division by two in compound meters

Answer 8

Duplet

Question 9

Pattern of strong and weak based on downbeat and upbeat weights

Answer 9

Metrical accent

Question 10

Syncopation in compound meters where the normal three part division is regrouped into two’s

Answer 10

Hemiola

Question 11

Meter with two beats per measure, subdivided by three

Answer 11

Compound duple

Question 12

Pick-up. A note or sequence which precedes the first down beat in a measure

Answer 12

Anacrusis