DURATION
Refers to the length of sound or silence. It includes aspects of:
- Note values and rests
- Tempo
- Time signature/ Meter
- Beat
- Rhythmic devices
1) BEAT- is a regular pulse in the music that makes us tap our feet. The emphasis on certain beats would determine the meter, for example
If there are 4 beats to a bar and the 1st and 3rd beats are stressed that would make it quadruple time.
a) Strong Beat- provides a sense of drive and direction. Music with a strong beat makes it easy for the listeners to tap, dance or clap
Example: Daft Punk 'One more time' -There is strong beat on the 2nd and 4th beat. Listen from 0:40-1:00 here
b) Weak Beat- provides a slight emphasis on the first beat of each bar. It is not as definite or strong as the example above. It gives the listeners
some sense of structure and direction.
Ecample: Schubert's 'Serenade'- There is a slight emphasis on the first of every 3 beats. Listen 0:00-0:30 here
c) Back Beat- is where there is an emphasis on the 2nd and 4th beat. It heard in most popular pieces.
Example-Listen to the drums 0:00-0:20 Queen "Another One Bites the Dust" here
2) METRE- is how beats are organised into groups. Beats can be grouped in 2,3,4,5,6,7,etc.
- Duple meter (2 beats in a group-bar)/ Triple meter ( 3 beats in a group-bar)/ Quadruple meter (4 beats in a group-bar)
a) Time Signature- is usually placed at the beginning of a piece and are represented by 2 numbers. here
- Top number: Tells us how many beats there are in a bar (group).
- Bottom Number: Tells us what the value of the beats are.
There are 2 different types of groupings:
- SIMPLE TIME: Note values are even. EG: 2/2 , 3/2 , 4/2 , 2/4 , 3/4 , 4/4n. EG 6/4, 6/8, 6/16, 9/4 , 9/8 , 9/16
Example of Simple and Compound time: here
Example of Irregular Time: here
b) Absence of metre- refers to 20th century classical music, where there is no set beat to structure the piece.
Example: 'Threnody for the Victim of Hiroshima'- Krzysztof Penderecki here
3) RHYTHM- is a pattern of long and short sounds and rests (silence). It consists of note values below.
a) Note Values-are symbols that represent the length of the notes and silences. here
Reference: here
b) Rhythmic Devices
1) Rhythmic Ostinato- Repetitive rhythmic, melodic or harmonic pattern.
Example of Rhythmic and Melodic Ostinato-
Listen to the bass 0:00-0:20 Queen 'Another One Bites the Dust' here
2) Repetition- a pattern that is repeated throughout the piece.
Example: The theme is repeated in Tchaikovsky's 'The Nutcracker Act 2 No.12' 0:00-0:25 here
3) Syncopation- is where there are emphasis (stress) placed on the weak beats.
Example Natalie Cole singing 1:00-1:15 Bobby Troupe 'Route 66'- here
4) Imitation- a pattern of notes repeated by another instrument.
5) Riff- a melody or a chord progression that is repeated throughout the song.
Example Listen to the bass played by The White Stripes 'Seven Nation Army' 0:00-0:15 here
6) Accent- refers to the notes that have been emphasised or stressed.
Example Listen to the snare, it emphasises on the 2nd and 4th beat ( back beat) 0:10-0:30- The Kooks' Junk of the Heart' here
7) Hemiola- a syncopated pattern with 2 beats played in the time of 3 beats. This creates a 123-123-12-12-12 heard in Leonard Bernstein's 'America' here
8) Polyrhythm- two or more rhythms played at the same time. Example The Dodos 'Fools' Listen 0:39-0:50 here
9) Cross Rhythm- similar to Hemiola
10) Diminution- a pattern of note values that halved. It gives the listener a sense that the tempo is getting faster as well create tension in the music.
11) Augmentation- a pattern of notes doubled. It gives the listener a sense that the music is playing slower.
12) Swing Rhythm- a pattern of notes that are swung. Note values are played as:
Listen to the drums in Dianna Krall's "Stop this World" 0:30-0:45 here
13) Rock beat- Heard in most pop/rock pieces. Eg Listen 0:15-0:25 here
4) TEMPO- is the speed of music. It indicates how fast or slow the music is played.
Here are some Italian musical terminologies to learn:
