DURATION 4
Duration refers to the lengths of sounds and silences in music and includes the aspects of beat, rhythm, metre, tempo, pulse rates and absence of pulse.
Students should be able to discuss the following aspects of duration as relevant to the music studied:
• beat: the underlying pulse in music
• rhythm: patterns of long and short sounds and silences found in music
• tempo: the speed of the beat. Music may be relatively fast or slow and may become faster or slower
• metre: the grouping of beats. Beats can be grouped in any combination including 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and so on.
Students should understand and apply the following (where appropriate to the musical context):
• regular and irregular metres
• metric groupings
• tempo
• rhythmic devices such as syncopation, augmentation and diminution
• methods of notating duration, both traditional and graphic.
Students should be able to discuss the following aspects of duration as relevant to the music studied:
• beat: the underlying pulse in music
• rhythm: patterns of long and short sounds and silences found in music
• tempo: the speed of the beat. Music may be relatively fast or slow and may become faster or slower
• metre: the grouping of beats. Beats can be grouped in any combination including 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and so on.
Students should understand and apply the following (where appropriate to the musical context):
• regular and irregular metres
• metric groupings
• tempo
• rhythmic devices such as syncopation, augmentation and diminution
• methods of notating duration, both traditional and graphic.
Accent
Anacrusis Augmentation Backbeat Bar Beat Diminution Dotted Rhythm Duplets Duration Free Rhythm Legato Metre Multimetre Offbeat Ostinato Pause/Fermata Polyrhythm Pulse Rhythm Rubato Staccato Swing Rhythm Syncopation |
Tempo & Other Words
- Largo - Lento - Adagio - Andante - Moderato - Allegro - Vivace - Presto - Prestissimo - Ritardando - Accelerando - Molto - Poco - Piu - Meno - Meno Mosso - Piu Mosso - A Tempo - Static Time Signatures - Simple Tine Signatures - Compound Time Signatures - Irregular Time Signatures Triplets - Crotchet Triples - Quaver Triplets |
TIME SIGNATURES
The time signature tells you how many beats are in each bar and implies the duration and divisions of each beat.
The time signature tells you how many beats are in each bar and implies the duration and divisions of each beat.
Simple Time Signatures
Simple time signatures have whole beats (like crotchets and minims) that are divisible by ½
Simple time signatures have whole beats (like crotchets and minims) that are divisible by ½
2/4
This time signature has a strong-weak beat structure 1 2 1 2. Here is an excellent example from Mozart’s K 331 Piano Sonata
This time signature has a strong-weak beat structure 1 2 1 2. Here is an excellent example from Mozart’s K 331 Piano Sonata
3/4
This time signature has a strong-weak-weak beat structure. 1 2 3 1 2 3. The Waltz is the best example of this time signature. Here are various pieces that use this time signature.
This time signature has a strong-weak-weak beat structure. 1 2 3 1 2 3. The Waltz is the best example of this time signature. Here are various pieces that use this time signature.
4/4
Our most beloved time signature. The beat structure is strong-weak-slightly strong - weak.
The beat structure is 1 2 3 4.
It is also known as common time.
Our most beloved time signature. The beat structure is strong-weak-slightly strong - weak.
The beat structure is 1 2 3 4.
It is also known as common time.
2/2
Also known as cut common time ¢ It is generally used in fast pieces. It is very similar to 4/4 time. Each bar totals 2 minims. Listen to the example and hear the counting. It is much easier to count in lots of two rather than
1 2 3 4.
Also known as cut common time ¢ It is generally used in fast pieces. It is very similar to 4/4 time. Each bar totals 2 minims. Listen to the example and hear the counting. It is much easier to count in lots of two rather than
1 2 3 4.
NOTE NOTE NOTE NOTE NOTE: If a simple time signature song uses triples, does that turn it into a compound time signature? NO. A compound time signature has beats that are constantly divided into 3. Triples are used in a simple time signatures as there is no way to divide the beat into three. This is because the beat is usually one beat and there is no simple note that equals a third of a beat. Compound time signatures have a beat that lasts for 1½ beats, that is why the beat can be divided into three because 3 quavers = 1½ (not triplets).
Here is a song that is in 4/4 time. It does use a lot of triplets but there are numerous bars that use no triplets, just plain quavers. This means that the piece does not have a compound time signature as not every the beat is divided into 3. Every beat must be divided into 3 for the piece to have a compound tie signature.
Here is a song that is in 4/4 time. It does use a lot of triplets but there are numerous bars that use no triplets, just plain quavers. This means that the piece does not have a compound time signature as not every the beat is divided into 3. Every beat must be divided into 3 for the piece to have a compound tie signature.
Compound Time signatures
Compound time signatures are based on dotted beats and each beat is divisible by 3 (3 normal quavers not triplets).
Compound time signatures are based on dotted beats and each beat is divisible by 3 (3 normal quavers not triplets).
6/8
This time signature has 2 main dotted crotchet beats
This time signature has 2 main dotted crotchet beats
Irregular Time Signatures
Also called Asymmetric time signatures as they can not be divided up evenly
This video discusses irregular time signatures
Also called Asymmetric time signatures as they can not be divided up evenly
This video discusses irregular time signatures
5/4
The beats are usually grouped as 3 + 2 as there is now way to evenly split 5 (using whole beats)
The beats are usually grouped as 3 + 2 as there is now way to evenly split 5 (using whole beats)
Here is a piece called ‘Take 5’ The beats are grouped in lots of 3 + 2
Here you can clearly see how the bar of 5 beats is grouped as lots of 3 + 2
If you head this time signature it would be excellent if you could name it but even better say if the five is divided up as a 3 + 2 or a 2 + 3.
If you head this time signature it would be excellent if you could name it but even better say if the five is divided up as a 3 + 2 or a 2 + 3.
7/4
The following example is from the Pink Floyd song ‘Money’.
7 can not be evenly divided so the beats in this example are grouped in 3 + 4
The following example is from the Pink Floyd song ‘Money’.
7 can not be evenly divided so the beats in this example are grouped in 3 + 4
Here's one for you, what is the time signature?
Triplets
Crotchet triplets – Fitting 3 crotchets into the time of two beats
Crotchet triplets – Fitting 3 crotchets into the time of two beats
An excerpt from ‘I will follow Him’ from Sister Act.
Quaver Triplets
Fitting three quavers into one beat (dividing the beat into 3 in a simple time signature) (See ‘Time Signatures’ in DURATION)
Fitting three quavers into one beat (dividing the beat into 3 in a simple time signature) (See ‘Time Signatures’ in DURATION)
Here is Chopin’s ‘Mazurka’. The quaver triplets are used throughout. Notice the ‘dotted rhythm’ in the treble at bars 8,11,12.
Semiquaver Triplets
3 semiquavers in the time of two. An example form Vivaldi's Spring.
3 semiquavers in the time of two. An example form Vivaldi's Spring.
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