Chapter 2: Rhythm and Meter: Musical Time
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Music is propelled forward in time by:
a. harmony. c. texture.
b. rhythm. d. timbre.
2. The element of music that organizes movement in time is:
a. rhythm. c. harmony.
b. melody. d. form.
3. The basic unit of rhythm that divides time into equal segments is called:
a. meter. c. the beat.
b. syncopation. d. the accent.
4. Beats that are perceived as stronger than other beats are said to be:
a. minor. c. accented.
b. major. d. metrical.
5. Organized patterns of rhythmic pulses are called:
a. offbeats. c. syncopations.
b. meters. d. polyrhythms.
6. Meter is marked off in groupings known as:
a. phrases. c. cadences.
b. measures. d. chords.
7. The first accented beat of a measure is called:
a. a syncopated beat. c. an upbeat.
b. a simple beat. d. a downbeat.
8. The metric pattern in which a strong beat alternates with a weak one is called:
a. triple meter. c. quadruple meter.
b. duple meter. d. compound meter.
9. Which meter would most likely be associated with a march?
a. duple c. quadruple
b. triple d. compound
10. A repeated rhythmic pattern in which an accented beat is followed by two unaccented beats is
called:
a. duple meter. c. quadruple meter.
b. triple meter. d. compound meter.
11. Meters in which each beat is subdivided into three rather than two are known as:
a. simple meters. c. compound meters.
b. complex meters. d. unequal meters.
12. The patriotic song America (“My country, ’tis of thee”) is an example of:
a. duple meter. c. quadruple meter.
b. triple meter. d. compound meter.
13. Which of the following songs is in compound meter?
a. Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star c. America, the Beautiful
b. Greensleeves d. America
14. The deliberate upsetting of the normal pattern of accents is called:
a. rhythm. c. syncopation.
b. meter. d. compound meter.
15. The simultaneous use of two or more rhythmic patterns is called:
a. polyrhythm. c. additive meter.
b. syncopation. d. compound meter.
16. Music that moves without a strong sense of beat or meter is called:
a. compound. c. nonmetric.
b. additive. d. irregular.
17. In _______ meter, the beat is divided into two.
a. simple c. complex
b. compound d. hybrid
TRUE/FALSE
1. The element that organizes musical movement in time is called harmony.
2. Measures mark off groupings of beats, each with a fixed number that coincides with the meter.
3. Meter is the measurement of musical time.
4. Meter is an organizing principle shared by music and poetry.
5. Syncopation is typical of African American dance music and spirituals.
6. Polyrhythm is the simultaneous use of rhythmic patterns that conflict with the underlying beat.
7. All world musics feature a strong regular pulse or beat.
8. Music that moves without a strong sense of beat or meter is referred to as nonmetric.
9. The most common compound meter is sextuple meter.
1. Define rhythm, beat, and meter and describe the way they work together in music.
ANS:
Answers will vary.
2. In terms of rhythm and meter, describe the differences between traditional Western music and that
of African American dance and other non-Western musical traditions.
ANS:
Answers will vary.