Duration

Question 1

Duration

Answer 1

Refers to the lengths of sounds and silences in music.

Question 2

Four aspects of duration

Answer 2

Beat, rhythm, tempo and meter.

Question 3

Beat

Answer 3

The underlying pulse in a piece of music.

Question 4

Strong beat

Answer 4

Gives music a drive and clear sense of momentum. Songs with a strong beat are easy for audiences to dance to, clap along to or tap their foot to.

Question 5

Definite beat

Answer 5

Is similar to a strong beat, although more specific. It is a strong beat that can be described according to where the definite beat falls in the measure.

Question 6

Weak beat

Answer 6

Does not provide the music with as much drive or momentum compared to a definite or strong beat. It can involve a slight emphasis on the first beat of every bar to give the listener a sense of structure.

Question 7

Indefinite beat

Answer 7

Is always considered a weak beat, although it can be heard in passages where there is free rhythm. Free rhythmic passages are sometimes heard in the introduction to a song.

Question 8

Downbeat

Answer 8

The first beat of a measure in music.

Question 9

Upbeat

Answer 9

An unaccented beat or beats that occur before the first beat of a measure.

Question 10

On-beat

Answer 10

The first and third beats in a bar of four-four time, or the strong beats in a particular time signature.

Question 11

Off-beat

Answer 11

Beats that are not particularly strong or are weak in a specific time signature.

Question 12

Backbeat

Answer 12

A syncopated rhythm where accentuation occurs in the off beats or weak beats in a measure.

Question 13

Cross beat

Answer 13

A form of polyrhythm, where a rhythm is used simultaneously with another rhythm or rhythm,

Question 14

Hyperbeat

Answer 14

One unit of hypermeter, generally a measure.

Question 15

Meter

Answer 15

The grouping of beats in a piece of music that we hear as an organized succession of rhythmic pulses

Question 16

Duple meter

Answer 16

Two beats per measure

Question 17

Triple meter

Answer 17

Three beats per measure

Question 18

Quadruple meter

Answer 18

Four beats per measure

Question 19

Time signatures

Answer 19

References at the beginning of a musical score tells us the number and type of beats per bar. The top number indicates how many beats per measure, while the bottom number indicates the type of beat.

Question 20

Difference between meter and time signature

Answer 20

Meter refers to the overall pulses per bar.

Time signature is the individual subdivision per bar.

Question 21

Simple time signatures

Answer 21

Has even division of beats in a bar.

Question 22

Compound time signatures

Answer 22

Have odd divisions of beats in a bar. Generally each beat of the measure divides naturally into three equal parts.

Question 23

Mixed meter

Answer 23

The use of more than one meter in a piece of music. Commonly heard in folk music.

Question 24

Hypermeter

Answer 24

Refers to the combining of several measures into one unit.

Question 25

Polymeter

Answer 25

Where the beat varies and the measure stays constant

Question 26

Changing metre

Answer 26

The modulation or change in meter in a piece of music.

Question 27

Rhythm

Answer 27

The patterns of long and short sounds and silences in music. It refers to the way a composer divides the beat within the bars to create a desired effect.

Question 28

Effects of rhythm

Answer 28

1. Accentuate the pulse and beat, helping the listener to identify its meter.
2. Provide a sense of momentum within a piece of music.
3. Highlight a particular instrument.
4. Most importantly, help to identify the overall musical genre or style.

Question 29

Regular rhythm

Answer 29

Like a steady beat, is easy to follow and predictable in composition.

Question 30

Irregular rhythm

Answer 30

Also known as free rhythm is often improvised for expression. May be heard at the beginning of a piece of music as an introduction to the composition.

Question 31

Additive rhythm

Answer 31

A rhythm in which larger periods of time are constructed by joining end to end a series of unities into larger units of unequal length. E.g. 5/8 is an additive meter because it is a combination of 2/8 and 3/8 back to back.

Question 32

Divisive rhythm

Answer 32

A rhythm in which a larger period of time is divided into small rhythmic units. E.g. 4/4 is a divisive meter because it is a combination of two 2/4 units.

Question 33

Note value

Answer 33

Indicates a note’s length or duration. All note values are relative to each other.

Question 34

Dotted notes

Answer 34

Where a dot is placed after the note value to indicate an increase in duration of the note by adding half of the original notes value on. Double dotted notes also exist where you add on half the value of the value you added onto the original note.

Question 35

Tuplets

Answer 35

Any rhythm that involves dividing the beat into unexpected subdivisions within the given time signature.

Question 36

Triplets

Answer 36

Playing three notes in the space of two.

Question 37

Quintuplets

Answer 37

Where five notes are played in the space of four.

Question 38

Sextuplets

Answer 38

Where six notes are played in the space of four.

Question 39

Septuplets

Answer 39

Where seven notes are played in the space of four.

Question 40

Rhythmic ostinato

Answer 40

A constantly repeated musical phrase in the same instrument or voice. An ostinato can be rhythmic, melodic or harmonic.

Question 41

Repetition

Answer 41

Reiteration of a pattern, either immediately after its first statement or throughout the piece of music, as a unifying feature.

Question 42

Syncopation

Answer 42

An emphasis on the weak or off beats. Composers use syncopation through accents (Accented syncopation), rests (missing note syncopation), and ties (suspended syncopation).