Chapter+Two

Chapter Two

Define the following terms:

Anacrusis - pick-up note

Bar line - a line that separates each measure.

Beat - the primary pulse of the music.

Compound meter - a meter in which a beat is subdivided in three.

Cut time – a time signature with a half note getting each beat; used to represent a 2/2 time signature.

Dot - a symbol that adds to the note half its value.

Downbeat - beat 1 of metrical pattern.

Eighth note - a notation that has one flag and has half note value of a quarter note.

Half Note - a stemmed, white note that has two quarter note values.

Measure - a group of beats

Meter - grouping and divisions of beats.

-Duple meter - a meter in which a beat is grouped in two.

-Quadruple meter - a meter in which a beat is grouped in four.

-Triple meter - meter in which a beat is grouped in three.

Meter signature - a number that signifies the number of beats in a measure, the note type that provides the beats, and the divisions of the beats.

Quarter note - a stemmed, black note with a note value equal to two eighth notes.

Rest - signifies the duration of silence.

Rhythm - patterns made by the combinations of pitch and silence.

Simple meter - a meter that divides a beat in two.

Sixteenth note - a black note with two flags which has half the note value of an eighth note.

Slur - an arc that connects two or more notes to show articulation.

Syncopation - off-beat accents

Tempo - the speed of the piece.

Tie - an arc that connects two notes with the same pitch to extend the duration of the notes.

Time Signature - same as meter signature.

Upbeat – the final beat of the measure.

Whole note - a white note without a stem that has a value of two half notes. The longest note value.

Questions for review:

1. What is the difference between (a) simple and compound meters, (b) rhythm and meter, (c) beat division and subdivision, (d) a flag and a beam, (e) a tie and a slur?

The difference between simple and compound meters is that simple meters divide each beat in two while compound meters divide each beat in three. Rhythm is the duration of rests and notes while meter is the grouping and division of beats. A beat division is how the beats are grouped and subdivision is how a beat is divided. A flag is what a single eighth or sixteenth note has and a beam is what connects two or more eighth or sixteenth notes together. A tie is an arc connecting two same-pitched notes to extend the note value while a slur is an arc connecting two or more notes together to illustrate articulation.

2. How does the meter signature reflect metric organization of music in simple meters?

The meter signature reflect metric organization by the number on top displaying how many beats a measure has and by the number on the bottom displaying the type of note that will represent a beat.

3. For each of the following meter signatures, provide the number of beats per measure and the beat unit: 3/2, 4/8, 2/4. For each of these meters, write three measures of rhythm using correct notation.

3/2 – three beats per measure. Beat unit is a half note. 4/8 – four beats per measure. Beat unit is a eighth note. 2/4 – two beats per measure. Beat unit is a quarter note.

4. What are the notation rules for:

(a) stem direction – stems should point downward and hang from the left side when notes are above the third line of the staff. Also, stems should point upward and rise from the right side when notes are below the third line of the staff.

(b) beaming beat divisions - eighth notes or sixteenth notes are beamed together by each beat.

(c) upbeats – when there is an upbeat, the last measure will have the amount of beat of the upbeat fewer than the rest of the measures.

5. How are syncopations created? Write two syncopated rhythmic patterns.

Syncopations are created by dots, ties, rests, dynamic markings, or accent marks and they occur on off-beats.