Pop - Beatles - Eleanor Rigby - TEMPO/METRE/RHYTHM

Question 1

What is the metre and tempo of Eleanor Rigby?

Answer 1

Fast quadruple time

136 crotchets/minute

Question 2

Is tempo maintained throughout?

Answer 2

There is a slight unmarked ritenuto at the close

Question 3

What rhythm is the song Eleanor Rigby built on?

accompaniment

Answer 3

• Insistent repeated crotchets in accompaniment
• enlivened by quaver figures e.g. bar 3+4
• sustained notes in cellos in refrains

Question 4

what other rhythmic devises does Eleanor Rigby employ?

Answer 4

Frequent syncopation in vocal parts

e. g.
- refrain “all the lonely” (bar 2)
- verse “picks up the rice…” (bar 10”)