Rhythmic unit
A
rhythmic unit is a
durational pattern which occupies a period of time equivalent to a
pulse or pulses on an underlying
metric level, as opposed to a
rhythmic gesture. Rhythmic units may be classified as:
#Metric: even-note patterns, such as steady
eighth notes or
pulses.#Intrametric: confirming patterns, such as
dotted eighth-
sixteenth note and
swing patterns.#Contrametric: non-confirming, or
syncopated patterns.#Extrametric: irregular patterns, such as
tuplets.
(DeLone et. al. (Eds.), 1975, chap. 3)
References
*DeLone et. al. (Eds.) (1975). Aspects of Twentieth-Century Music. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall. ISBN 0130493465.
