Year 11 - Music
Idiomatic rhythms around the world
Understanding metre, rhythm, dynamics and articulation
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Unit Summary
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Lesson Summary
You will learn to identify idiomatic rhythmic features of key Western and non-Western styles.
Key Notes
- Many styles around the world are defined by idiomatic rhythms.
- Some of these are linked with specific styles, such as skank (reggae), chaal (bhangra) and scotch snap (Celtic folk).
- Others have their roots in specific regions, but are used in many styles, such as the clave and tresillo rhythms.
- Some are not specific rhythms, but types of rhythms, such as swing, free rhythms and driving rhythms.
Vocabulary To Learn
- driving rhythms: fast, repeated rhythms that create a sense of energy
- clave: a five-note syncopated rhythm with various forms; the most common form is the son clave
- tresillo: a three-note rhythm that is the same as the '3' of the son clave
- chaal: the name commonly given to a particular distinctive rhythm played on the dhol in bhangra
- free rhythms: when free rhythms are played, they create no clear sense of pulse
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Idiomatic rhythms are rhythms that are only used in a specific style.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain the lesson in two key points.
Many styles around the world are defined by idiomatic rhythms. Some of these are linked with specific styles, such as skank (reggae), chaal (bhangra) and scotch snap (Celtic folk).
2. What does this key word mean in this lesson? 'driving rhythms'
fast, repeated rhythms that create a sense of energy.
3. Correct this common mistake.
Mistake: Idiomatic rhythms are rhythms that are only used in a specific style. Correction: Idiomatic rhythms are rhythms that are typically associated with that style, but can also be heard in different styles. For example, while the skank rhythm is very idiomatic in reggae, there are many other styles that also repeat off-beat quavers.
More Lessons In This Unit
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