The Poetic Heartbeat of Music: Rhythm, Pulse & Meter
by Daniel Nistico
Rhythm, pulse and meter form the heartbeat of music. Rushing and slowing rhythms can depict certain moods, such as our heart racing when we get excited or slowing when we’re relaxed. Rhythm, pulse and meter are also the forces behind musical poetry. Stress, release, accent, weight, inflection and even poetic feet – these are all found in music.
Musical notation has many limitations especially in regard to rhythm and accentuation.
Think of how we read words and sentences off of the page. We introduce a whole series of accents, stresses and inflections that are not indicated. Music should be just the same; therefore we need to understand how the poetic aspects work. Imagine reading a sentence and not adding any stress, accent or inflection!
I created a chart that gives the most standard accentuation patterns for each of the common time signatures (click here to download).
Try and apply these accents to your pieces to create a sense of poetry, which will enable you to truly speak the language of music.
by Daniel Nistico
Rhythm, pulse and meter form the heartbeat of music. Rushing and slowing rhythms can depict certain moods, such as our heart racing when we get excited or slowing when we’re relaxed. Rhythm, pulse and meter are also the forces behind musical poetry. Stress, release, accent, weight, inflection and even poetic feet – these are all found in music.
Musical notation has many limitations especially in regard to rhythm and accentuation.
Think of how we read words and sentences off of the page. We introduce a whole series of accents, stresses and inflections that are not indicated. Music should be just the same; therefore we need to understand how the poetic aspects work. Imagine reading a sentence and not adding any stress, accent or inflection!
I created a chart that gives the most standard accentuation patterns for each of the common time signatures (click here to download).
Try and apply these accents to your pieces to create a sense of poetry, which will enable you to truly speak the language of music.
Play the accented notes with your thumb
Use i or m for the unaccented notes
This will make your physical action help to result in the desired effect - it's all marked in the chart.
Write in the accentuation marks into your scores
Are there any pieces you’re working on where you can apply this? I’d love to know - leave a comment below!
| Accentuation Chart.pdf |
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