Unit 2 – Rhythm, Meter & Metric Organization

1. V Unit 2 – Rhythm, Meter & Metric Organization Mr. Jackson AP Music Theory

2. V Notating Rhythm

3. V Notating Rhythm

4. V Notating Rhythm Introduction • Music is sound and silence in time. • Western Music Notation shows how long one note lasts in relation to others. • Time Signaturesspecify how many beats are in each measure and which note value constitutes one beat. • The TOP number tells you how many beats are in a measure • The BOTTOMnumbertells you which note gets one beat

5. V Notating Rhythm The Dot and the Tie • The Dot extends the value of a SINGLE note by one-half of itsoriginal value. • The Tie combines the durational values of two or more notes of the same pitch using a curved line.

6. V Metric Organization Definitions • Duration – The Length of time sound (or silence) occurs • Beat – A regular, recurring pulsation that divides music into units of time • Meter– The organization of beats into regular groups of TWO, THREE, and FOUR (usually with strong and weak beats) and how the beat is subdivided • Subdivision– The division of the beat into two or three equal parts • Rhythm– Series of durations, often varying, of sound and silence • Tempo– The speed of the beat

7. V Metric Organization Meter • Duple – Two beats per measure [ STRONG weak] TOP NUMBER of TIME SIGNATURE = 2 or 6 • Triple– Three beats per measure [ STRONG weak weak] TOP NUMBER of TIME SIGNATURE = 3 or 9 • Quadruple– Four beats per measure [ STRONG weak LESS STRONG weak] TOP NUMBER of TIME SIGNATURE = 4 or 12 • Simple Meter– refers to the beat being divided equally into TWO parts TOP NUMBER of TIME SIGNATURE = 2, 3, 4 • Compound Meter– refers to the beat being divided equally into THREE parts TOP NUMBER of TIME SIGNATURE = 6, 8, or 12

8. V Metric Organization Simple Meter

9. V Metric Organization Compound Meter

10. V Metric Organization Compound Meter Compound or not Compound?That is the question… To check:Divide the TOP NUMBER of the time signature by 3. If your answer is a whole number greater than 1 – you are in a Compound Meter. Pretty cool, huh?

11. V Metric Organization Compound Meter • For Compound Meter– BE CAREFUL when defining the BEAT! • For 6/8 – We usually consider each measure having 2 Beats – NOT 6 as many people assume based on defining Time Signatures.

12. V Meter Syncopation • Syncopation– Occurs when the emphasis or stress is in –between the beats or on a normally weak beat.

13. V Meter Syncopation (Cont..) • Syncopation can also involve TIES!

14. V Meter Triplets & Duplets • Triplet– Divides a regular duration into three* In “Simple Time” using Triplets -- You are kind of “borrowing” from a Compound Feel! • Duplet– Divides a regular duration into three* In “Compound Time” using Duples – You are kind of “borrowing” from a Simple Feel!

15. V Meter Downbeats & Upbeats • Downbeat– The first beat of the measure. • Anacrusis– Notes that precede the first beat.

16. V Metric Organization Asymmetrical Meters • Asymmetrical – means NOT symmetrical or NOT equal. Asymmetrical Meters have beat units of UNEQUAL LENGTH. • ** The most common asymmetrical meters have 5 or 7 as the top number!** • In 5/8 – you could break it down a few different ways (3+2 or 2+3) • What about this one?

17. V Meter Hemiola • Hemiola– (sometimes called CROSS RHYTHM) – is a metric device where the rhythmic relation of three notes occurs in the time of two. It consists of super-imposing two notes in the time of three (duplet), or three in the time of two (triplet).

18. V Meter Hemiola Although we have 3 beats per measure – Schubert constantly uses TIES to create 2 beats all over the place! What’s up with that?!  Etc..