General
– Two Parts Playing Different Rhythms in the Same Span of Time
– i.e. the Simultaneous Use of Contrasting Rhythmic Patterns
– Require at Least 2 Rhythms to be Sounding simultaneously, “Superimpose” one another for a New Composite Rhythm
– use to create a Sense of Instability before Resolve Rhythm (similar to Dissonance<->Consonance)
– Yves was famous for using Church / Traditional Melodies and he sometimes used 2 Conductors for the Orchestra to Manage different Rhythms
– Time Signatures as 4/2, 3/4, 3/2, 3/5, 4/7, 5/11
– Hemiola = 3 to 2 Pattern Pattern
– People use Words as Lead to Accent a Particular Rhythm
Simple Example 4/2
4 (4 Quarter Notes in Part 1) against 2 (2 Half Notes in Part 2)
Medium Example 3/4
3 (3 Quarter Notes Per Bar Part 1) against 4 (1 Beat per Bar Part 2)
Advance Example 3/2
– Hemiola Formula used Simultaneously instead Sequentially
3 (3 Quarter Notes Per Bar Part 1) against 2 (2 Beats per Bar Part 2)
African Rhythm
– African Rhythm Lies on the Metric Ambiguity of Creating 2 Rhythmic Levels (No Measures in the European Sense)
– a Ground Layer that is Fast with Even Pulsations and is Not Counted as Such but Rather Felt
– and a Superimposed Upper Layer of Mostly Asymmetrical (Occasionally Symmetrical) Patterns of Varying Length
– Africans use more of a 3:4 to Form 12 Beat Groups (more Complex as the Duration is Longer and More Options are Available (as the Ratio is 0.75 instead 1/12)
– i.e. 2 Different Patterns (4:3 Pattern) with a 3 Beat Pattern vs a 4 Beat Pattern to Form 12 Beat Groups
Example 4:3 Pattern in a 3/4 Signature (African Hemiola Quality)
1) Here the Primary Beat Pattern Needs 3 Beats
2) So the Right Hand Needs 3 x 1/4 Note to Fill the Measure of 3
3) For Secondary Pattern (Left Hand) to occur along with it, we Need 4 Dotted Eight Notes (because 1/8 + 1/16 they add up to 3 Beats)
4) Obviously the Dotted 1/8 Notes, here Need to Move at a Faster Beat than the 3 1/4 Notes, in Order of them Both to Occupy the Length of a Measure
4) Listen to Right Hand on Right Speaker & Left Hand on Left Speaker
Balcan Rhythm
– 7/8 = can be 3 + 4
– 11/8 = can be 3 x 3 + 2
– 8/8 = 3 + 2 + 3
Divers Rhythm
– 9/8 (also Used by Bach) was More of a 3 x 3
– 12/8 = (Reaper RMX) 5+ 7
– 2 Against 3
– 3 Against 4
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