Chapter 1

Duration
Table of contents

Important words: duration, rhythm, beat, pulse, metre, bar, 2

anacrusis, repeat
Time signatures & metre: simple time, compound time, 3
multimetre, metronome
Accent and ostinato: syncopation, backbeat, polyrhythm, 4
cross rhythm, free rhythm, riff
Tempo: Italian terms, Lento, Adagio, Andante, Moderato, 5
Allegro, Vivace, Presto; accelerando, ritardando, rubato
Duration match-up (student activity) 6

Notation term tango (student activity) 7

Tick or cross (student activity) 8

Duration checklist (student listening activity) 9

Duration and style (student activity) 10

Duration and style (student activity) 11

Duration question template (student listening activity) 12

Duration answer template (student listening activity) 13

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 Important words
In your studies of music, you will have to learn the correct way to talk about musical concepts. For Music
Course 1, the overall concept of rhythm, beats, pulse, time signatures and so on, is called duration.

Duration means how long something lasts. For example, the HSC Music To remember the
meaning of this word,
Examination for Course 1 Aural Skills is of one hour duration. think of Duracell
Of course, duration does not always have to be long. A batteries
semiquaver has a very short duration, and a semibreve has a (dura=duration).
longer duration. They were so named
to imply that they last
for a long time.
Rhythm refers to patterns of long and short sounds. Rhythm involves
the grouping and organisation of sounds, and how the long and
short notes are arranged.
The word “rhythm”
Beat is the main time unit of a composition. A beat occurs on a comes from the Greek
word “rhuthmos”
strong accent. If you clap along in time with music, you are which means flow.
clapping the beat. A conductor moves his or her arms in time
with the beat.
Take your resting
Pulse refers to the underlying pattern of strong beats. Pulse is very pulse. How many
similar in meaning to “beat”. beats per minute?

Metre is the way beats are grouped together and measured. Beats are
arranged into bars, with the same number of beats in each bar.
A time signature is used to show how many beats are in each bar
Some types of music
and the duration of each beat. have an irregular
metre which means
Bar means a group of beats, separated by bar lines. The first beat is the number of beats
changes
usually accented, which means that it is emphasised or stressed. from bar to bar.
Usually, there is the same number of beats in each bar.

Anacrusis is a note or notes occurring before the first beat of the first bar of a composition. The
notes in an anacrusis form an incomplete bar, and their value is subtracted from the final
bar of the piece. The anacrusis can also be called an upbeat.

3 Double bar lines

4           : are used at the end

of a composition.
Time The two dots
Signature First beat accented Bar line mean repeat.
Anacrusis Bars

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 Make sure you memorise these
Time Signatures are numbers used at the beginning of a note values and names!
note rest
composition to explain the metre, or how many beats are in each Semibreve 4 beats 
bar. A time signature also tells you about the duration of each beat. 
Minim 2 beats  
how many beats in each bar? 3 beats per bar
3 Crotchet 1 beat  
4 what kind of beats are in each bar? crotchet beats
 
Quaver ½ beat

Semiquaver ¼ beat  
Simple time is based on simple, or whole beats, like
crotchets or minims. Most pop and rock music is in simple time, and
A dot adds half the value eg.  1½

usually 4 beats per bar. For the exam, you will mostly need to be familiar with :

2 3 4 4 on the bottom means crotchet beats

4 4 4

Compound time is based on dotted beats, such as dotted crotchets. It feels like three beats
in a bar, but the beats are quicker. Dance compositions, such as gigues and folk dances, use compound
time.

6 9 12 8 on the bottom means quavers, grouped in dotted crotchet beats

8 8 8

Multimetre Some pieces use numerous changes in time signatures in quick succession. In the
examination, you may be faced with a jazz piece or a modern composition which keeps changing its metre.
It makes the music complex and interesting. For example, the metre may
change from 5/4 to 7/4 to 4/4.

Metronome Invented by J.N.Mälzel in 1816, the metronome has a

swinging rod, like a pendulum in a clock that makes a clicking sound. The
speed of the rod can be varied by moving a weight into a higher or lower
position. The rod has numbers on it, from 30 to 180, meaning the number
of beats per minute. The numbers correspond to the metronome marking
on the top of most pieces of music.
eg. M.M. = 80
Mälzel’s metronome. 80 crotchet beats per minute.

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 Accent and ostinato
Accent means emphasis or stress. It can be achieved by playing one note or chord louder than the
others, or by increasing its duration slightly. In 4/4 time, the accent falls on the first note or chord of a
bar, with a weaker accent on the third beat.
Syncopation occurs when the accent is on the weaker beats. In 4/4, if the accent is not on the
first and third beats of a bar, then there is probably some kind of syncopation in the music. Syncopation
can range from a simple backbeat (see below) to complex jazz rhythm patterns. Syncopation can be
achieved by moving notes on to the weak beats of the bar, or through ties, or by accenting notes that
would not normally be accented.
Backbeat is a feature of rock, popular and rhythm’n’blues music. Instead of occurring on the first
and third beats, the accent is on the second and fourth beats. Backbeat is a form of syncopation.

4
4   _  >
>
     
_  
  
> >
Strong accents are shown by arrow markings > . Backbeat Ties are used to throw the accent off the
Weaker accents and stress marks are shown by a line -. main beats on to the half beats.
Strong accent on first beats; weaker accent on third beats. Both of these bars are SYNCOPATED.

Polyrhythm refers to the use of two or more conflicting rhythm patterns Learn this word
or accents at the same time. “Poly” means “many”, so polyrhythm means “many because you are sure
different types of rhythms”. Polyrhythms often occur in heavily syncopated pieces to hear some type of
polyrhythms in the
and compositions which combine different metres. Jazz pieces with complex
HSC examination!
syncopation and changing accent patterns can have a polyrhythmic effect even if
only one instrument is playing.
3
Cross rhythm is a type of polyrhythm where 4      
two metres are played at the same time. Mostly cross
rhythms are used when 3/4 is played against 6/8. You 6    
8
can hear lots of cross rhythms in West Side Story.
Free rhythm describes music where the beat is indefinite. If you try to clap along, it is difficult to
know where the regular accents occur.
Ostinato refers to a repeated pattern of pitch or rhythm, in all or part of a piece. Ostinato comes
from the Italian word “obstinate” or stubborn, because the pattern repeats again and again, stubbornly
continuing. The plural of ostinato is ostinati not ostinatos. A riff is a short repeated phrase. It is a
word used ONLY IN POPULAR MUSIC. It is played usually on guitar or bass. A riff is very similar to an
ostinato. A riff may occur only a few times whereas an ostinato is more continuous.

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The international language of music is
SLOWLY Lento

Adagio

Andante

MODERATELY
FAST Moderato
By common agreement among
musicians, most markings on music are
in Italian, so a composer in China can
communicate his or her intentions with
a performer in Spain or Australia. As Allegro
always, there are exceptions to this
rule. Romantic composers often wrote
their instructions in German, the Vivace
Impressionists wrote theirs in French,
and in modern music, anything goes!
But as a general rule, musicians use QUICKLY Presto
Italian to specify speed, dynamics and
expression.

When the music speeds up, we use the term accelerando

which means gradually getting faster. Think of the accelerator on
a car.
When the music slows down, we use the term ritardando
which means gradually getting slower.
These are words for gradual changes of speed, not a total change
of tempo.

Rubato In some compositions, the speed seems to ebb and flow,

creating expressive climaxes in each phrase. This is rubato, which means
“robbing”. You steal part of the value of one note, and pay it back on the
next note or phrase. Rubato technique consists of mini-accelerando and
mini-ritardando parts, while the overall tempo remains constant. Rubato
was used extensively in the Romantic period by composers such as
Chopin, as performers were given the opportunity to express themselves
through variations in tempo. Rubato is also used in jazz, and in slow
romantic pop ballads.

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 Draw a line to match the music word or symbol with its correct meaning.

ACCELERANDO
speed

a repeated pattern of notes and/or rhythm
ACCENT
when the 2nd and 4th beats of the bar are accented
BACKBEAT
where the accents occur on the weaker or off-beats
in a bar
TEMPO
3 crotchet beats per bar
MODERATO
a note or chord that is stressed or emphasised
RHYTHM
the numbers written at the start of a composition to
SYNCOPATION indicate how many and what type of beats per bar

RUBATO slowly

3 indicates the end of a composition

4
numerous changes in time signature
PRESTO
many rhythms or accents occurring at the same time

patterns of long and short sounds

M.M.  = 60 gradually getting faster

crotchet rest
MULTIMETRE
moderately fast
TIME SIGNATURE
quickly
POLYRHYTHM
Mälzel’s Metronome - indicates the speed of the
OSTINATO piece; 60 crotchet beats per minute

LENTO “robbing” the time - playing faster and slower to

make the performance more expressive

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Choose a word from the box and write it on the line next to the music or words that explain it.
polyrhythm bass clef moderately fast backbeat accent quickly
syncopation quaver natural sign repeat sign flat sign
sharp sign compound time slowly gradually getting slower
ostinato up-beat cross rhythm crotchet rest gradually getting faster

1.     10. 

2.          11. 

3.         12. 

4.  13. 

5.                  14. 

6.     15. 
7. : 16. accel.

8.        17. Adagio

18. Vivace
9. 4        
4
19. Moderato
4
4        
4
4      
   
 
20. rit.

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 Tick or cross
Below you will find 16 statements made by students when practising their written responses
for the HSC examination. Some make sense and musical terminology is used correctly,
while others do not make sense or musical terminology is used incorrectly. Draw a tick or a
cross in the box next to each statement to indicate if you think it is correct. If you make a
cross, explain why the statement is incorrect.

eg. There is an ostinato in one bar. X The statement cannot be correct. An ostinato is a
continuous, repeated pattern so it is not possible
for it to be in one bar only.
____________________________________
1. The rhythm was high. ____________________________________
____________________________________
2. The piece has a quick pulse. ____________________________________
____________________________________
3. The excerpt is in a jazz, swing style, using complex ____________________________________
dotted rhythms. ____________________________________
____________________________________
4. The backbeat was on the main beat. ____________________________________
____________________________________
5. There was one polyrhythm. ____________________________________
____________________________________
6. The accelerando towards the end adds to a ____________________________________
sense of excitement and climax in the piece. ____________________________________
____________________________________
7. The speed is smooth. ____________________________________
____________________________________
8. The drums play a syncopated ostinato. ____________________________________
____________________________________
9. The tempo changes from Allegro in Section A, to ____________________________________
Adagio in Section B. ____________________________________
____________________________________
10. The singer sings Allegro, the piano plays ____________________________________
Lento, and the saxophone plays Moderato. ____________________________________
____________________________________
11. There is no rhythm until half way through the ____________________________________
piece. ____________________________________
____________________________________
12. The composer uses cross rhythms - the ____________________________________
guitar plays in 3/4 and the fiddle is in 6/8 ____________________________________
____________________________________
13. The beat has a jazzy feel. ____________________________________
____________________________________
14. The tempo gets louder and faster. ____________________________________
____________________________________
15. The time signature is slow.

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Your teacher will play four musical excerpts for you. Draw a tick in the column if the aspect of duration
occurs in the music you hear.

ASPECTS OF DURATION PRESENT IN THE EXCERPT 1 2 3 4

Tempo is Adagio / Lento

Tempo is Andante / Moderato
Tempo is Vivace / Presto
Tempo remains constant throughout the excerpt
Tempo changes during the excerpt
Simple time
Compound time
Multimetre
Rhythm is strict and rigid
Rhythm is free and indefinite
Syncopation
No syncopation
Polyrhythms
Cross rhythms
Ostinato
Backbeat
Anacrusis
Accelerando
Ritardando
Rubato
Note values are mostly short
Note values are mostly long
Dotted rhythms
How many bars are there in each section of the excerpt?
Intro
Section A / Verse 1
Section B / Verse 2 / Chorus
Section C / Verse 3

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Your general knowledge about the history of music should give you ahead start in answering questions in
the HSC examination. As soon as you hear the first bars of the excerpt in an exam situation, you should
be able to identify the style. Is it a Classical piece? a piece of Theatre music? a Rock song? or a sample of
African tribal drumming? By working out what period and genre the excerpt is from, your general
knowledge can give you a head start in answering the exam question.

Here is a summary of how Rhythm is used in Jazz music. Of course, there are exceptions to every
statement, but on the whole, these generalisations apply.

Aspect of duration
Jazz
Tempo ranges from slow, rubato ballads in “cool” jazz, to fast bebop and New Orleans jazz

Metre multimetre is common, use of 5/4, 7/4, cross rhythms as different instruments imitate and
improvise around each other.
Describe rhythm Extensive use of rhythmic improvisation during solos. In ensembles, the drummer and bass player
usually play a stabilising beat. Syncopation is often used, as melodic lines are based on speech
rhythms. Heavy use of accents, ties and dotted rhythms to create syncopation. Rhythmic ostinati
are common. In ensembles, polyrhythms are used to create interest and excitement. Due to the
use of polyrhythms, syncopation, and multimetre, jazz rhythms are highly complex.
Note values Dotted rhythms are common, especially in swing styles. Most jazz pieces have an improvised
section and solos where performers use complex, fast note values (semiquavers,
demisemiquavers) contrasting with longer notes.

Now it’s your turn. Try to write your own summary of the use of duration in other styles and types of
music. You should be able to generalise about the style without hearing an actual excerpt.

Aspect of duration
Overture from a stage musical
such as West Side Story, Guys and Dolls or My Fair Lady.
Tempo

Metre

Describe rhythm

Note values

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 Aspect of duration
Rap / hip hop song
Tempo

Metre

Describe rhythm

Note values

Aspect of duration
African tribal drumming
Tempo

Metre

Describe rhythm

Note values

Aspect of duration
Film soundtrack of a chase scene
Tempo

Metre

Describe rhythm

Note values

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Duration: question template
Listen to a short musical excerpt. Write responses in point form to the questions and prompts below.

TEMPO AND METRE What is the Tempo marking overall? (Allegro, Lento, Moderato etc)

Does the tempo change or remain constant throughout? If it changes, where does
this happen?

What is the time signature? Is there any use of multimetre?

Describe the beat - is it steady, strong, indefinite? Is there a backbeat?

FOR EACH SECTION IN THE EXCERPT, ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS

INTRODUCTION How many bars in this section?

Describe the rhythm. Is it animated, lively, free, slow and ponderous, rigid and
march-like?

What instruments create the rhythm?

Describe the use of note values (long, short, dotted etc)

Syncopation? Ostinati? Polyrhythms? Use of imitation?

Describe and notate the main rhythms in this section.

SECTION A/ How many bars in this section?

VERSE 1
Describe the rhythm. Is it animated, lively, free, slow and ponderous, rigid and
march-like?

What instruments create the rhythm?

Describe the use of note values (long, short, dotted etc)

Syncopation? Ostinati? Polyrhthms? Use of imitation?

Describe and notate the main rhythms in this section.

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Duration: answer template
Listen to a short musical excerpt. Write your answers in point form. The prompts have been omitted to test
your knowledge of the duration concept!

TEMPO AND
METRE

INTRODUCTION

SECTION A/
VERSE 1

SECTION B

SECTION C

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