Reading and Writing Music

Question 1

What is polyrhythm?

Answer 1

A polyrhythmic texture is created when two or more different rhythms are played at the same time.

They are usually found in African and Afro Cuban music.

Remember: “Poly” means “many”, and so “polyrhythms” means “many rhythms”.

Question 2

What is bi-rhythm?

Answer 2

A bi-rhythm is where a time signature can be divided into different patterns of beats.

e.g. in 3/4 there can be:

• 3 groups of 2 quavers (dd,dd,dd), or
• 2 groups of 3 quavers (ddd,ddd).

Question 3

What are cross-rhythms?

Answer 3

Cross rhythms are when two or more rhythms that don’t fit together are played at the same time, such as triplet quaver against normal duplet quavers.

Cross rhythms help to create tension.

African music uses a lot of cross rhythms.