Rhythm

Section 2: Focus on RHYTHM

Across the four areas of study, these are the ‘must-know’ musical terms for RHYTHM, TEMPO and METRE:

RHYTHM TEMPO METRE

Semibreve

Minim Allegro

Crotchet Vivace Regular

Semiquaver Allegretto Irregular

Dotted Moderato Accent

Syncopation Andante Simple time: 2/4

Swing rhythms Adagio Simple time: 3/4

On the beat Lento Simple time: 4/4

Off beat Accelerando Duple time

Triplet Ritardando Triple time

Associated rests Rallentando Quadruple time

Driving rhythms Rubato Compound time: 6/8

Dance rhythms Pause

Rock rhythms

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Area of Study 1: Musical Forms and Devices

1. You will hear the opening of a dance by Strauss.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKkDMiGUbUw [from start to 1’04’’]

Listen to the opening of the extract before answering the questions below.

I. One of the following statements is true. Tick (✔) the statement you believe to be true. [1]

Statement Tick
The tempo of the extract is consistent throughout
The tempo of the extract is Vivace
The tempo of the extract is varied ✓

II.

i. Underline what happens to the tempo of the music during the extract. [2]

It gets slower It gets faster It remains at constant speed

ii. Underline the musical term which correctly describes what happens to the tempo of the music.

Accelerando Rallentando Ritardando

III. Tick (✔) which rhythm is the correct rhythm for the main musical idea. [1]

IV. Underline which type of metre best describes the music in the extract. [1]

Triple time Quadruple time

Some additional facts: This extract is performed by an orchestra and written by a man called Johann
Strauss. He was Austrian, and composed the piece in 1866, which was in the Romantic era. The English
title of the piece is ‘The Blue Danube’, and it is a famous waltz. The strings play tremolo when the music
starts and their dynamic marking is pianissimo. The music is in the key of A major.
TIP: Make sure that you know the meanings of and understand all the musical terms written in bold.

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*What type of ensemble is performing in this extract?

*Would you describe the main melodic idea as mostly conjunct or mostly disjunct?
*Suggest a suitable dynamic for the beginning of the extract.

2. The following extract is an instrumental section from Verdi’s famous opera, ‘Aida’.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AssDQbaIP_I [from start to 1’11’’]

Listen to the extract and then answer the following questions on rhythm.

I. State the time signature of the music. [1]

4/4

II. Underline the musical term which describes the correct metre of the extract. [1]

Simple duple Simple triple Simple quadruple

What are the other metres you need to know for GCSE music?

III. In the table below, tick (✔) two rhythmic features heard in the extract. [2]

Rhythmic features Tick

Swing rhythms
Dotted rhythms ✓
Semibreve rhythms
Consistent minim rhythms
Triplet rhythms ✓

IV. Underline the Italian term which describes the tempo of the extract. [1]

Andante Allegro moderato Adagio

This is another famous piece of music from the Romantic era, composed by Giuseppe Verdi. It comes
from his opera called Aida and is called the ‘Triumphal March’.

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Listen to the opening rhythmic idea at the start which is all on one pitch; the piece certainly captures the
feeling of a very grand fanfare.
• What is the tonality of the extract?
• What are the main melodic features of the music?
• What family of orchestral instruments do you hear at the start?
• What do you think the dynamic of the music is?
• Are there any other musical features of interest in this extract?

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Area of Study 2: Music for Ensemble

1. Listen to the following extract of jazz music.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvExZuWbSFQ [from 0’12’’ to 0’57’’]

I.

i. How many beats are there in every bar? [1]

Four

ii. State the correct time signature. [1]

4/4

iii. Tick (✔) the metre which is the correct description for this type of metre. [1]

Type of metre Tick

Simple duple
Simple triple
Simple quadruple ✓
Compound duple
Compound triple
Compound quadruple

II. In the first part of the extract, the accompaniment joins in with a two-note chordal idea. State which
beat of the bar this rhythmic idea enters. [1]

Beat number 3

III.

i. Underline which Italian term best describes the tempo of the musical extract. [1]

Vivace Andante Lento

ii. Underline the term which best describes the rhythmic interpretation of the main melody. [1]

Dotted On the beat Syncopated

iii. Underline the description which best fits the rhythmic style of the music. [1]

Swing rhythm Rock rhythm Driving rhythm

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Additional task
Now listen to the opening of another version of this music:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dzVt1Ks59M [from the start to about 1’ 15”].
Discuss the content with other members of the class, and compare the two versions, taking into account
the contrasts in instrumentation, overall style and any other musical features of interest. When
describing the second version, concentrate on the differences in the music.
Write up your observations.

2. Musical Theatre
The next extract is a number called ‘Tomorrow’ from the show Bugsy Malone by Paul Williams.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdPtrvVhm6I [from start to 0’57’’]

Answer the following questions on rhythm, while listening carefully to the audio extract.

I. Tick (✔) the two statements about rhythm that you believe to be true. [2]

Statement Tick
The longest note value used in the extract is a semibreve
The shortest note value used in the extract is a quaver ✓
The extract begins with an anacrusis ✓
The extract begins with a triplet

II. The opening musical idea has a distinctive rhythmic pattern. Tick (✔) the pattern which you believe
to be the correct pattern from the 3 options given below. [1]

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III.

i. State the time signature of the music. [1]

3/4

ii. Suggest a suitable tempo marking for the music. [1]

Moderato

iii. What is this type of metre known as? (e.g. Compound duple) [1]

Simple triple

IV. One type of rhythmic device is used in the vocal line, particularly noticeable towards the end of the
extract. State what you think that may be. [1]

Syncopation

• State the tonality of the music.

• State whether the opening section is the verse or the chorus.
• Decide whether the dynamic at the start is ff, mf or pp.
• Which of these words best describes the style of the music?
Hip-Hop Jazz Rock Folk

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Area of Study 3: Film Music

1. This is a musical extract from the film The Goonies.

Listen to the musical extract https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WQTjOEkG7E [from start to 0’55’’]
Now, answer the following questions on rhythm. The extract may be considered in two sections: the first,
which is quite dramatic; and the second, which feels as if it is gathering pace.

I. Tick (✔) the correct time signature and metre of the musical extract. [2]

Time Signature Tick Metre Tick

2/4 Compound duple
3/4 Simple quadruple ✓
4/4 ✓ Simple triple
6/8 Simple duple

II. Tick (✔) two of the following statements which you believe to be true. [2]

Statement Tick
The first chord is played on the first beat of the bar. ✓
The first chord is syncopated.
The first chord is a semibreve note-value.
The first chord is on an accented beat. ✓

III. The second part of the extract feels as if it is speeding up as the music gathers momentum.
Underline the rhythmic idea used to achieve this. [1]

Swing rhythms Triplet rhythms Driving rhythms

IV. Tick (✔) three rhythmic features heard in the second section of the extract. [3]

Rhythmic features Tick

Semiquaver note-patterns ✓
Triplet rhythms
Repeated crotchets
Dotted rhythms ✓
Rests ✓
Steady minim movement

Can you work out the rhythmic notation for the first two bars of the tune?

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2. You will hear the opening of the theme from a film called The Deer Hunter.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6gpa8nUa70 [from start to 0’38’’]

Read the questions carefully before the first playing of the extract. The extract consists of a short introduction
and the first play-through of the main theme.

I. State the time signature of the music. [1]

6/8

II. Underline the term which describes the metre. [1]

Simple Duple Simple Quadruple Compound duple

III. Suggest a suitable tempo marking for the music. [1]

Andante / Lento

IV. Underline how many bars long you believe the introduction to be. [1]

One bar Two bars Three bars Four bars

V. Tick (✔) two features of the lower part which is the accompaniment to the theme. [2]

Rhythmic features of the left-hand part Tick

Irregular pattern
Regular pattern ✓
Continuous quavers ✓
Continuous minims

VI. Describe the main rhythmic features of the theme heard in the higher part. [3]

use of dotted minims/sustained notes at the start of the phrase; shorter note-values /
semiquavers in pattern to lead into next phrase / one dotted rhythm / crotchets at end just
before final note.

Further task: the longer answer question

This film is an epic war drama. Describe how the composer achieves the mood of intense sadness in this
famous theme. You must explain your observations by considering the use of all the musical elements in
the music, including the use of melody, harmony and texture.
[Other: Major key/legato/mp dynamic/totally conjunct movement/ - compare the feeling of 3/4 and 6/8]

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Area of study 4: Popular Music

1. Listen to the opening of ‘We Are The Champions’ as performed by the group Queen.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=goeT7boL1Ks [from start to 0’51’’]

Now answer the following questions on rhythm.

I.

i. Tick (✔) the one statement that you believe to be true. [1]

Statement Tick
The extract begins with an up-beat ✓
The extract begins with an off-beat
The extract begins with a swing beat

ii. Give another name for ‘up-beat’ [1]

anacrusis

II. Three of the following statements are true. Tick (✔) the three statements that you believe to be true.
[3]

Statement Tick
The rhythmic pattern of the short introduction consists of steady crotchets.
The rhythmic pattern of the short introduction consists of steady quavers. ✓
The rhythmic pattern is played once before the voice enters.
The rhythmic pattern is played twice before the voice enters. ✓
The rhythmic pattern ends with a sequence.
The rhythmic pattern ends with syncopation. ✓

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III.

i. Tick the rhythmic pattern which you consider to be the correct one for the first line of the chorus
section which is ‘We are the champions, my friends...’ [1]

ii. The correct description of this type of metre is [1]

compound duple

2. Listen to the opening of a song by Katy Perry called ‘Never Really Over’.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEb5gNsmGJ8 [From start to 0’29’’]

Now answer the following questions.

I. Complete the following sentences with the correct musical answer. [3]

i. The tempo of the music in this extract is

moderato

ii. The time signature of the music in this extract is

4/4

iii. The correct description of the type of metre is

simple quadruple

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II. Tick (✔) three of the following rhythmic features heard in this short extract. [3]

Rhythmic features Tick

Some triplet patterns ✓
Fast continuous semiquavers
Repeated minims in the melody line
Use of rests ✓
A dotted rhythm at the end of some phrases ✓
Driving rock rhythms throughout

III. Two of the following statements are true. Tick (✔) the two statements that you believe to be true.
[2]

Statement Tick
In this extract, ‘clicks’ are heard on beats 1 and 3

In this extract, ‘clicks’ are heard on beats 2 and 4

✓

In this extract, ‘clicks’ are heard on beats 1 and 2

In this extract, ‘pitched’ notes in the

accompaniment are heard on beats 1 and 2
In this extract, ‘pitched’ notes in the
accompaniment are heard on beats 1 and 3
In this extract, ‘pitched’ notes in the
✓
accompaniment are heard on beats 1 and 4

• Is the tonality of this piece major, minor or modal?

• In your groups, discuss the use of technology in this track.

GCSE Music | Rhythm