Pulse: Feeling the Beat
We have been studying music as the organization of sound. In this module, we will add the important dimension
of time,which is the duration of sounds or silences. This organization of sound in time is called rhythm.
Rhythm plays an organizing role in dance, poetry, and theatre—even comedy routines. Our bodies
experience rhythm with our heartbeats, breathing, and locomotion. In music, when you tap your foot to a song,
you are responding to its rhythm, or “feeling the beat.”
Beatis the regularity of a pulse.This can be shown as equidistant lines:
Tempois the rate of speed of the beat. Many composers use Italian words to indicate the tempo of a piece. For
example, Allegro(happy or cheerful in Italian) is used for a fast tempo, Moderatomeans medium speed, and
Adagiois used for a slow tempo. If musicians who are performing together do not agree on the same tempo, to
maintain a steady beat, and to accelerate or decelerate at the same time, they will not play together and the
result will be cacophony (from the Greek language meaning “bad sounds”).
TRACKS 28–32- “Hong Cai Mei Mei,” Chinese folk song
29.Intermezzo, Op. 116, No. 4 (J. Brahms) - Italian Concerto (First movement) (J.S. Bach)
- Nautilus from Sea Pieces (E. MacDowell)
- Riff in C (S. Takesue)
Exercise 1—Class Exercise
Using Tracks 28–32 or examples played by your instructor, determine the tempo and place a check on the appro-
priate blank below. As you are listening, feel the pulse of the piece and clap it. Is the tempo fast, medium, or slow?
\\\\
41 Pulse: Feeling the Beat
42 Types of Rhythmic Values
43 Stems and Flags
45 Rhythmic Patterns with Beams
48 Time Signature, Bar Line, Double Bar Line
49 Meter
49 Simple Meter
50 Comparing a Melody in Different Meters
51 Conducting Patterns
59 WorkbookMODULE 2 BASICS OF RHYTHM
41