How to Approach Analysis of Rhythm and Meter
Julianne Larson and Tanner Doyle
The following steps are often useful in the analysis of rhythm and meter:
- Consider the meter as a listener. Whenever possible, before looking at the music (or at least without the music on hand) listen to various different recordings of the piece by multiple groups, trying to identify audible meter, shifting meter, syncopation, and other rhythmic elements. This helps one to learn the listener’s perspective of the meter without knowledge of the written meter. It is important to do this without the sheet music to try to remove as much bias as possible and hear it from the perspective of an audience member.
- Compare with the notation. Look at the sheet music and identify instances of these same elements (meter/time signature, shifting time signature, syncopation, other rhythmic elements) as they are notated in the score. At this time it might be helpful to “count-sing” through each part to get the perspective of the performer looking at the sheet music.
- Compare and contrast these two perspectives. Is the notated meter readily apparent to the audience? Do written syncopations in the sheet music sound syncopated to an outsider? What other surprises do you encounter comparing these two experiences of the same piece?
- Compare findings from the previous questions with the text or overall message of the song as a whole. Are the surprises you encountered (or didn’t encounter) meaningful? What feeling does the rhythm/meter lend to the work as a whole? Does this confirm or contrast the mood of the text? Are there examples of text painting in the rhythms?
- Cross-reference rhythm and meter with other parameters. Think about the harmonic language of the piece and compare it with the rhythmic sequences already identified. Both harmonically and rhythmically, western audiences have specific expectations that can be met or not. How are these expectations treated? Are there moments where the rhythm of the piece might be more or less important than the harmony for this reason? Does harmony change as the rhythms do, or do the rhythms divide up the same harmonies? Does this connect to the text/mood of the piece as a whole?
- Consider rhythm and meter and performance. Whether or not you are preparing to do this already, take on the role of a conductor. Ask yourself, what rhythmic elements are important and how can they be highlighted in your choir’s interpretation of this piece? What rhythmic elements will be difficult for the audience to hear and interpret, and how should that be addressed meaningfully? What notated rhythmic figures will be difficult for your choir to execute, and how can you as the conductor help them to express them efficiently? What other interpretive choices can be made based on the text/subtext of the piece?
