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Understanding Music
Quick questions on Rhythm and tempo: SQA Advanced Higher Music rhythmic concepts
5short Q&A pairs drawn directly from our worked dot-point answer. For full context and worked exam questions, read the parent dot-point page.
What are hear the metric conflicts?Show answer
The hardest rhythm concepts involve a conflict with the prevailing metre. A hemiola briefly regroups triple time so that, for example, two bars of 3/4 are heard as three beats of two: a momentary shift of accent without a change of time signature, especially at cadences. A cross rhythm sets a rhythm against the main pulse, most often two notes against three (duplets over a compound beat). Listen for the pulse being momentarily reorganised or contradicted while the underlying metre continues.
What are hear the tempo devices?Show answer
Tempo concepts include the expressive bending of tempo. Rubato is the flexible stretching and relaxing of tempo for expression, where the music pushes ahead and pulls back rather than holding a strict beat. Distinguish rubato (an expressive, free flexing of an otherwise steady tempo) from a written change such as ritardando (a notated, gradual slowing). The clue to rubato is give and take around the pulse, often in Romantic playing.
What is q1?Show answer
What is a hemiola? [2 marks]
What is q2?Show answer
How does a cross rhythm differ from a polyrhythm? [2 marks]
What is q3?Show answer
What is rubato? [1 mark]
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