Polyrythmy

The polyrythmy consists in simultaneously playing two or several rhythmic parts of different ranges whose flows of notes are not multiple one of the other (see the examples below). Each rhythmic part is called pattern when it is about a rate/rhythm which is repeated.

Note: It is understood that the concept of rhythmic, and thus of polyrythmy, is not limited that to parts of percussions sometimes as one makes it clear it.

Simple example

A current and simple application of the polyrythmy consists in writing a part in binary, for example into 4/4 and one part into ternary, for example into 3/4. Thus the two parts will play in a way shifted until they meet at the end of 12 times because it is the lowest common multiple of 3 and 4:

4×3=12 and 3×2×2=12 is 3×2 ² =12

2 ² ×3=12

One can thus build the “basic” rate/rhythm according to (this rate/rhythm is often called one “three out of four”):

O symbolize each one a black and them. a sigh (a silence of the duration of black)

It is noted whereas both carried will meet.

A more complicated application can be to conceive made up measurements, or to include artificial divisions: triplet, Quintolet…

Note on the example: this example results from a change of meter (of a measurement with 4/4 one passes to a measurement to 3/4) and thus from a “polymetry” more than of a polyrythmy.

In a binary measure (let us say 2/4), a first range made up of 4 eighth notes superimposed on one second made up of 2 triplets of eighth notes are an good example of polyrythmy.

Applications in the music

the musics African, Indian and Arab use styles different of polyrythmy.
In occident one used this technique with the Middle Ages but it was thereafter abandoned. It is considered that it is Igor Stravinski with the Rite of Spring in 1913 which re-established it and Béla Bartók and Charles Ives packed this technique much. Later, the techniques of repetitive Musique such as the dephasing theorized by Steve Reich ( Drumming , 1971) will use processes very erudite of polyrythmy.
Iannis Xenakis will be even further mixing the tempos.
Much of recent musics such as the Jazz, the progressive Rock'n'roll or the music of Latin America like the samba or the Salsa uses also this technique.

Application in juggling

In Juggling, of the concepts of polyrythmy appears in 2005 on the list of discution rec.juggling . The goal is to dissociate the work of the Main S to leave the traditional modes of juggling Asynchrone and Synchrone. The polyrythmic sequences Siteswap introduce new rates/rhythms in solo and in Passing because they are made up of series of synchronous and asynchronous throws. For example a polyrythmic sequence 2 out of 3 presents a synchronous throw followed by three asynchronous throws i.e. the hands throw at the same time (left and right), then three throws in turn (left, right, left or conversely). X mark times when the hands launch (identical to struck times of the polyrythme corresponding in music).

Simple: Polyrhythm

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