What Is Harmonic Rhythm? Things To Know About This Tempo

What Is Harmonic Rhythm? Things To Know About This Tempo

HARMONIC RHYTHM – In this topic, we will now know something in music theory that is known as the harmonic rhythm or the harmonic tempo.

HARMONIC RHYTHM
Image from: School of Composition

As mentioned above, also known as harmonic tempo, it refers to the rate at which there is a change of chords (sometimes known as chord progression or harmonic progression) in a musical composition or peace.

Hence, the passage in common time (4/4 time signature) with a flow of sixteenth notes and chord changes in every measure is considered having a slow harmonic tempo but fast musical rhythm .

On the other hand, a fast harmonic tempo would have a trickle of half notes, twice a measure of chord changes, and a slow musical rhythm.

How people described harmonic tempo?

  • William Tempo
    • It is “the duration of each different chord…in a succession of chords”
  • Joseph Swain (2002)
    • It is “simply that perception of rhythm that depends on changes in aspects of harmony”
  • Walter Piston (1944)
    • It is “the rhythmic life contributed to music by means of the underlying changes of harmony. The pattern of the harmonic rhythm of a given piece of music, derived by noting the root changes as they occur, reveals important and distinctive features affecting the style and texture.”

A strong harmonic tempo is best described by:

  • strong root progressions
  • emphasis of root positions
  • weak contrapuntal bass motion
  • strong rhythmic placement
  • relatively longer duration.

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