the chords on the second and third beats moderately weak in the middle register. Rhythm is closely associated with the idea of accent that emphasizes or stresses on one tone or chord normally falling on the first beat of a measure for the simple time, with a secondary accent or accents on other particular beats of a measure for the compound time. Irregular accents are frequently found on weak beats to meet musical expressive needs, and syncopation is a good example that realizes its special rhythmic effect by shifting the ought-to-be accent in a way of tying (using a tie) a weak beat with the following strong beat or placing a rest on the strong beat or simply imposing an accent sign on the weak beat.

【 】Meter, time; Bar and bar line; Measure; Common meter; Simple meter(s); Compound meter(s); Time signature; Multi-meter; Irregular meter; Duple meter(s); Triple meter(s); Quadruple meter(s):

Meter is the basic way for organizing beats and accents. The various ways of such grouping are indicated by the time signature presented right after the key signature at the beginning of a composition on the staff that is written like a fraction. Of the signature, the upper numeral indicates how many beats exist in each measure (measures or bars are divided by bar lines meaning only accent on the first beat following that bar line), and the lower numeral indicates what kind of note is in length for one beat. For example, the time signature 3/4 means that there are three beats in each measure and each beat is valued a quarter note. All the meters fall mainly into two categories depending on whether each measure possesses one single accent or compounded accents. The former is called simple meter and the latter compound meter. Thus, duple meters including 2/2, 2/4, 2/8 and triple meters 3/2, 3/4, 3/8 belong to simple meters. Quadruple meters 4/2, 4/4 and 4/8 are considered by some as simple meters, but 4/4 are more frequently called common meter. Opposed to simple meters, compound meters, as the term suggests, are grouped together by multiplying the simple meters introduced earlier by three, whereupon compound duple, which is three times of duple, includes 6/2, 6/4 and 6/8, compound triple 9/4 and 9/8, and compound quadruple 12/4, 12/8 and 12/16. The meters mentioned so far are all regular ones. Irregular meters refer to those that contain, in each measure, more than one type of simple meters. For example, meter of 7/4 is possibly an irregular compound of (2+2+3)/4. The principle applies to, according to this writer but not necessarily agreed by others, quintuple meter 5/4 that is actually the sum of 3/4+2/4 or 2/4+3/4 for each measure. Still another concept concerns with multi-meter that simply means that more than one meter are employed throughout a musical piece. In such a case, the time signatures are either placed where the time signature normally is or placed where the alternatives take place.

【 】Tempo and tempo term(s); Metronome:

Some Italian terms are universally used to mark the tempo: how fast or slow a piece of music should go. From the slowest to the fastest, the frequently used terms include:

Larghissimo: very broad

Largo: broad

Lento: slow

Adagio: slow and gentle

Andante: walking

Andantino: quickened walking

Moderato: moderate

Allegretto: rather fast

Allegro: fast

Presto: very fast

Prestissimo: extremely fast

Accelerando: quickening

Ritardando: slackening

Ritenuto: holding back

The above terms suggest relative speed for a composition. To indicate accurate speed, Mälzel’s Metronome, abbreviated as M.M. is listed to guide the performer how many beats per minute should be played. Metronome was invented by J. N. Mälzel in 1816 which is an apparatus employing a swinging rod moving back and forth with the number to indicate how many times of oscillating go in a minute, and the sound of clicks secures a reference with which the performer might sustain the speed steadily.

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