Hemiole

A hemiole ( Greek ἡμιόλιος , hēmiólios "one and a half") is a special form of syncope . The accentuation scheme of a measure is temporarily broken up so that the appearance of a new, different time signature is set. By linking , two three- bar measures are often reinterpreted into one large three-bar. Hemioles are also possible in ⁶ ⁄ ₄ or ⁶ ⁄ ₈ cycles.

Example of hemiolus formation:
1st line: Notation. 3rd and 4th bars: The tie that leads to hemiolus formation.
2nd line: Effect achieved. 3rd cycle: Two ³ ⁄ ₄ cycles become a ³ ⁄ ₂ cycle.

The new bar structure and the changed rhythm have the effect of a broadening ( ritardando ). This effect is often found in baroque - cadences , especially in phrases degrees in dance movements. Although they were somewhat forgotten in the Viennese classicism , hemioli were found more frequently again in the 19th century, especially in Johannes Brahms and Robert Schumann .

Example of a hemiole from the main theme of the 3rd Symphony in E flat major by R. Schumann. The theme is the first bars in ³ ⁄ ₂ bars .

A hemiole can also be created by appropriate rhythmic design within a three-bar without syncopation.

A hemiole is formed without any syncopation through rhythmic design and accentuation.

In mensural notation , a hemiole was often marked by coloring or blackening notes in the ³ ⁄ ₁ time customary at the time (the ³ ⁄ ₂ marking in this case is not a time signature). In later times the hemiole was not labeled.

literature

• Wilibald Gurlitt (Ed.): Riemann -Musiklexikon. 12th edition. Article hemiole . Schott Verlag, Mainz 1961.
• Clemens Kühn : Music theory. Basics and manifestations of occidental music (= (in Laaber Verlag): Musik-Taschenbücher Theoretica , Vol. 18, (in Hans Gerig Verlag): TB 269). Laaber-Verlag, Regensburg / Hans Gerig Verlag, Cologne 1981, ISBN 3-921518-60-1 .
• Wieland Ziegenrücker: General music theory. With questions and tasks for self-control (= series Musik Piper-Schott ). Schott Verlag Mainz / Piper Verlag Munich 1979, ISBN 3-7957-8201-5 (Schott), ISBN 3-492-18201-1 (Piper)
• Wieland Ziegenrücker: ABC music. General music theory. New edition. Breitkopf & Härtel, Wiesbaden 2009, ISBN 978-3-7651-0309-4 .
• Ferdinand Hirsch: Dictionary of Music, Pawlak-Verlag, ISBN 3-88199-397-5 , p. 202
• James Tyler: A guide to playing the baroque guitar. Indiana University Press, Bloomington / Indianapolis 2011, ISBN 978-0-253-22289-3 , pp. 50-56.

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Memorandum: The 2 × 3 time becomes a 3 × 2 time . S. Hermann Grabner : General music theory . 11th edition with an addendum by Diether de la Motte . Bärenreiter-Verlag, Kassel u. a. 1974, ISBN 3-7618-0061-4 . P. 41.
2. ↑ The sheet music example comes from: Wieland Ziegenrücker: Allgemeine Musiklehre. With questions and tasks for self-control (= series Musik Piper-Schott ). Schott Verlag Mainz / Piper Verlag Munich 1979, ISBN 3-7957-8201-5 (Schott), ISBN 3-492-18201-1 (Piper) p. 51 No. 123.