Division of time (musical theory)

In the Musical theory, one understands by division of time , the distribution in several left equal - two halves, or three thirds - ordinary duration the time.

Each part, if necessary, could be divided in its turn into several under-parts - on this assumption, one will speak about subdivision .

  • the division of time can be natural or artificial.

Natural division

The natural division - or ordinary division - times is the direct consequence of two principles: on the one hand, that of the relative value of the figures, on the other hand, that of the equivalence of the pointed values. The natural division of a time can be binary or ternary .

the various parts of the same time are separate between it by accents of less importance - that one could baptize under-pulsations . Thus, each binary time will have a under-pulsation in its medium, and each ternary time, will have of them two, one at the beginning of the second third of time, and another at the beginning of the third.

Binary time

A binary time is a divisible time in two equal parts - therefore, in two halves of time. A binary time will thus be represented by a simple value - i.e., not pointed -, since, for example, a round is divided into two white, white, in two black, etc the natural division of a binary time produces the following values: half, the quarter, the eighth, sixteenth, etc

Ternary time

A ternary music (Jazz, Swing, New Orleans, ternary Boogie) is made up of ternary times . A ternary time is a divisible time in three equal parts. In a ternary music, one generally plays two notes per time, the first note lasts two thirds of time and the second note lasts a third of time. It is this imbalance of duration between the notes of the same time which gives a particular feeling, the feeling of bounce .

Into boogy almost each time is broken up into 2 notes in report/ratio 2/3-1/3 as previously indicated what gives a tonic feeling of bounce.

In swing these is almost a time on 2 which is broken up in report/ratio 2/3-1/3 what gives a feeling of nonchalant bounce.

Artificial division

The artificial division of times - or exceptional division - makes it possible to insert a ternary time in the middle of a succession of binary times, or contrary, to insert a binary time in the middle of a succession of ternary times - triplet and Duolet. It also makes it possible to insert a time whose division could not be obtained naturally , for example division in five fifths, or, that in seven seventh, etc: Quartolet, Quintolet, Sextolet and Septolet, mainly.

Beyond the septolet, one can find divisions by 9, 10, 11, etc, but there does not exist precise terminology to indicate these new figures, which in addition are seldom used.

See too

Internal bonds

External bonds

  • Orthorythme a program to handle the rate/rhythm, and to include/understand division in time of measurement.

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