Rhythm
grouping, partitioning patterning of musical events
Tempo
How fast a piece moves–indicated by metronome marking
Pulse
measurement of the number of pulses between regularly recurring accents
Beats
pulses in a metric context
Duple meter
two beats per measure
Triple meter
3 beats per measure
Quadruple
4 beats to a measure
Simple meter
upper number is 2, 3, 4; lower can be 2, 4, 8,16
compound meter
upper number is 6, 9, 12 (lower can be 2,4,5,16). At faster tempo, beats grouped at lowest common denominator
Asymmetrical meters
divide asymmetrically–5/8, 7/8, 8/8, 11/8; 3+2, 4+4+3, etc
meter change
shift from on meter to another (2/4 -> 3/4 and back)
metric accent
distinction of strong and weak beats in a meter
downbeat
first beat in a measure
upbeat
last beat in a measure
rhythmic accent
the accentuation of the weak metric beat through note length, harmony, tonality, grouping
agogic accent
accentuation of a beat through duration
dynamic accent
accentuation of a beat through dynamic and articulative change (p, mp, mf, f)
anacrusis
note or group of notes that begin a melody on an upbeat
anacrusis melody
one that has an anacrusis
irregular division of the beat
division into triplets, 5-note groups, septuplets parts
ployrhythm
placement of a regular division of the beat against an irregular division
syncopation
contradiction of the usual metrical pattern of strong and weak beats
hemiola
interplay of 2 and 3 beats at a metric level (1-2-3, 1-2-3, 1-2, 1-2, 1-2-3)
ostinato
a constantly and literally repeated rhythmic figure