Simple Meter

Aurally ID the Simple Meter

(This section is also included in the NYU Aural Anthology)

Directions: Shuffle the playlist and listen to the examples. Identify the simple meter as 2/4, 3/4, or 4/4.

Examples with time signatures missing for meter ID.

1) Alan Menken, “Colors of the Wind,” chorus, from the film Pocahontas (1995), lyrics by Stephen Schwartz [Image | YouTube: 1:16–1:42]

2) Alan Menken, “Under the Sea,” mm. 21–28, from The Little Mermaid (1989), lyrics by Howard Ashman [Image | YouTube: 0:35–0:45]

3) Bob Cole, “The Katy-did, the Cricket and the Frog,” mm. 14–23, lyrics by James Weldon Johnson (1903) [Image | YouTube: 0:24–0:42]

4) Bosnian Folksong, “Why So Silent, Tell Me, Birdie (Paun I Kolo),” mm. 9–16 [Image | mp3]

5) Chiquinha Gonzaga, “Yo Te Adoro,” Op. 18, mm. 10–17 [Image | YouTube: 0:18–0:35]

6) Germaine Tailleferre, “Valse Lente,” mm. 1–8, from Deux Valses (1948) [Image | YouTube: 0:00–0:13]

7) Harry T. Burleigh, “Worth While,” mm. 8–19, from 5 Songs of Laurence Hope (1915) [Image | YouTube: 0:21–0:51]

8) John Williams, “Raiders March,” from the film Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), transcription by Mark Richards. [Image | YouTube: 0:06–0:21]

9) Leonard Bernstein, “Tonight,” from West Side Story (1957), lyrics by Stephen Sondheim [PDF | Image | YouTube: 2:08–2:20]

10) Maria Theresia von Paradis, “An das Klavier,” from 12 Lieder No. 1 (1786) [Image | YouTube: 0:04–0:37]

11) Richard Rodgers, “My Favorite Things,” mm. 1–8, from The Sound of Music (1959), lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II [Image | YouTube: 0:05–0:13]

12) Teresa Carreño, “Highland,” Op. 38, mm. 1–16 [Image | YouTube: 0:00–0:20]

1) Martin Luther, “Out of the Depths I Cry to Thee,” mm. 1–4 [Image | mp3]

2) Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, “She Sat and Sang Away,” mm. 7–22, from 6 Sorrow Songs No. 4, Op. 57 (1906) [Image | YouTube: 0:09–0:37]

3) Fanny (Mendelssohn) Hensel, “Wanderlied,” mm. 3–13, from 6 Lieder, Op. 1 (1846), lyrics by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe [Image | YouTube: 0:02–0:19]

Note: The composer didn't notate this piece in 2/4. What other meter could it be in?

4) Traditional Chinese Folksong, “Wedding Vow,” verse 1 [Image | YouTube: 0:20–0:54]

5) Maria Theresia von Paradis, “Sophia an Siegwart,” mm. 25–31, from 12 Lieder No. 2 (1786) [Image | mp3]

Examples with solutions rewritten in other simple meters (e.g 3/4 rewritten in 3/8). Examples may also be used for counting.

1) Billy Joel, “Piano Man,” chorus, from Piano Man (1973) [Image | YouTube: 1:26–1:34]

Directions: Rewrite the given passage in 3/2 and 3/8 meters.

2) Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, “Oh, Roses for the Flush of Youth,” mm. 41–56, from 6 Sorrow Songs No. 3, Op. 57 (1906) [Image | YouTube: 1:35–2:14]

Directions: Rewrite the given passage in 2/2 and 2/8 meters.

3) The Lumineers, “Cleopatra,” verse 1, from Cleopatra (2016) [Image | YouTube: 0:16–0:28]

Directions: Rewrite the given passage in 4/2 and 4/8 meters.

4) Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, “She Sat and Sang Away,” mm. 7–22, from 6 Sorrow Songs No. 4, Op. 57 (1906) [Image | YouTube: 0:09–0:37]

Directions: Rewrite the given passage in 3/4 and 3/2 meters.

5) Henry T. Burleigh, “Worth While,” mm. 9–18, from 5 Songs of Laurence Hope (1906) [Image | YouTube: 0:24–0:50]

Directions: Rewrite the given passage in 3/2 and 3/8 meters.

6) Meghan Trainor, “Dear Future Husband,” mm. 34–40, from Title (2015) [Image | YouTube: 1:47–1:57]

Directions: Rewrite the given passage in 4/2 and 4/8 meters.

Paula Maust, Expanding the Music Theory Canon: Simple Meter
Music by Women: Simple Meter
Rosenberg, From Rock Music to Theory Pedagogy, Appendix B (includes a list of popular music examples in 3/4 meter).
Music By Women: Explore the Database (Click on the Meter & Rhythm Filter on the left and select Simple Meter.)
Yale Musical Examples Database: See the "Meter/Rhythm" tab at the bottom.

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