[ << Musical terms A-Z ]	[Top][Contents][Index][ ? ]			[ Duration names notes and rests >> ]
[ < harmony ]		[  Up : Musical terms A-Z ]	[ high bass clef > ]

1.154 hemiola

ES: hemiolia, I: emiolia, (rarely hemiola or emiola), F: hémiole, D: Hemiole, NL: ?, DK: ?, S: ?, FI: hemioli, 3/2 -suhde.

[Greek: in Latin, sesquialtera] The ratio 3:2.

Most frequently, a proportion (q.v.) of three notes of equal value in the time normally occupied by two. The resulting rhythm can be expressed in modern terms as a substitution (for example) of a bar in 3/2 for one of 6/4, or of a bar in 3/4 for one of 6/8. During the Baroque era, hemiola is most frequently as a special effect (or affect) at cadences.

For example, this phrase in 6/4 time

may be thought of having alternating time signatures

and is therefore a polymeter (second definition) of considerable antiquity.

See also

mensural notation, meter, polymeter, proportion.

---

[ << Musical terms A-Z ]	[Top][Contents][Index][ ? ]			[ Duration names notes and rests >> ]
[ < harmony ]		[  Up : Musical terms A-Z ]	[ high bass clef > ]

<< Back to Documentation Index

LilyPond — Music Glossary v2.21.0 (Vývojářská větev).