Rhythm and metre Flashcards
Tempo
The speed of the music
Pulse/ metre
The beat of the music
Time signature
Indicates the number of beats in a bar
Simple time
The beat subdivides in to two
Compound time
The beat subdivides into three
Dotted rhythms
These are made up of pairs of notes in the pattern long-short
Triplets
A triplet is created when three notes notes are fitted into the time of two.
Syncopation
This occurs when three notes are fitted into the time of two
Augmentation
A rhythm is repeated in a shorter version, often with note values halved.
Cross rhythm
Created when two conflicting rhythms occur at the same time
Hemiola
A type of cross rhythm where two bars of 3/4 sounds like three bars of 2/4. This is commonly found in baroque music, in the two bars before the final chord of a cadence
Polyrhythm
More than two conflicting rhythms are heard at the same time
Irregular metres
Frequent changes of time signature occur, preventing a regular sense of pulse from being established
Free time
The performer interprets the rhythm without a regular beat
Rubato
a strictly notated rhythm is played with a degree of flexibility, as long as a basic sense of pulse is maintained. Rubato is often used in Romantic music.
