Music Theory: Rhythm and Meter Exam Review

Study Notes

Absolute Tempo: Represents a specific tempo retained in long-term memory.
Accent: Highlights certain musical elements that the composer intended to emphasize.
Beat: Acts as an underlying rhythmic pulse that organizes music.
BPM (Beats Per Minute): Quantifies the tempo by measuring beats within one minute.
Compound Meter: Divides beats into three equal parts, commonly seen in time signatures like 6/8, 9/8, and 12/8.
Duple Meter: Characterized by two beats per measure, with time signatures like 2/4 and 2/2.

Entrainment: Refers to the synchronization of mental and physical rhythms with musical beats.
Hypermeter: Describes a higher-level metrical structure that exists beyond individual measures.
Inter-onset Interval (IOI): Measures the time interval between the onset of consecutive notes.
Maximal Pulse Salience: The most prominent beat that stands out in the music.
Measure: A time segment distinguished by a set number of beats.

Meter: Defines how beats are grouped and divided within the music.
Metric Malleability: The ability of musical passages to adapt to various metric contexts.
Pulse: Represents a sequence of consistent and equivalent stimuli that partition time into equal units.
Rhythm: The sequence of long and short notes that creates the musical flow.

Selective Attention: The listener's choice of which musical elements to focus on.
Simple Meter: Involves beats divided into two equal parts, fostering straightforward rhythmic structures.
Spontaneous Tempo: A personal natural pace, instinctively tapped without external influences.
Stress: The dynamic enhancement of a beat, which can occur on both accented and unaccented notes.

Subjective Rhythmization: The listener's natural inclination to perceive and impose rhythm.
Synchronization: The rhythmic alignment of timing between various musical elements.
Syncopation: A rhythmic emphasis that occurs off the expected strong beats, creating an unexpected feel.
Tempo: The overall speed or rate at which the music is played.
Temporal Invariant: Describes events that repeat at consistent intervals.
Time Signature: The notation indicating the number and type of beats in a measure.
Triple Meter: Features three groups of beats per measure, often creating a distinct rhythmic feel.