Meter As Rhythm by Hasty Christopher;

Author:Hasty, Christopher; [Hasty, Christopher;]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780190886912
Publisher: OxfordUP
Published: 2020-09-15T00:00:00+00:00

Example 9.21 Projective consequences of immediate succession

The purpose of example 9.20 is to draw attention to the particular feelings that seem characteristic of unequal measures—what I have called feelings of “interruption,” “too early,” “delay,” and “suspension.” To intensify these feelings, I have departed from representing triple measure as a succession of equal durations. But although examples 9.20b and 9.20c introduce factors not encountered in example 9.20a, they are no less instances of triple meter, and I believe that some traces of “too early” and “delay” can also be discerned in feeling the inequality of triple meter in 9.20a. In discussing examples 9.20b and 9.20c, I called attention to an apparent divergence of the two aspects of deferral that, as I have argued, are inseparable. We will consider this divergence in more detail later. Here I would note that although one or another aspect may gain perceptual prominence, both are necessary for a feeling of triple measure. Either can be made to account for a feeling of inequality, but without both I cannot account for the particular sort of inequality that characterizes triple meter.

In attempting to draw attention to the feeling characteristic of unequal measure, I found it necessary to contrast this feeling with that of equal measure. I did not find it necessary to refer to inequality when discussing duple measure. This in itself is a sort of privileging of duple. This sort of privileging is common in discussions of meter and is even expressed linguistically in the “marked” form, “unequal” (or, as I have suggested, “off-balance”). Thus, “unequal” implies a departure from equality, or not being composed of two equal parts. Why should there be such a privileging of equal division and such a strongly felt difference between duple and triple? The notion of deferral is intended to provide a response to this question which does not suggest that duple is in any sense more “natural” than triple (although it may be in some sense simpler).

Although deferral is by no means unnatural, it is, nevertheless, linked to the incontrovertibly binary nature of projection. Since projection occurs only where there is immediate succession, it always involves two “adjacent” events. Given three equal durations (or, rather, three durations that are not “given” but which are created equal by successive reproduction), A, B, and C, no projection above the level of single durations can be realized. Thus, in example 9.21, A is adjacent to B and B is adjacent to C, and the projected durations of B and C are realized (example 9.21a). On the other hand, A –B is adjacent to C, but C does not realize the projection (example 9.21b); and A is adjacent to B–C, but B–C does not realize the projection (example 9.21c). However, if B and C are continuations, then by renouncing its claim to beginning, C has no choice but to become incorporated into a projection that entered into realization with the beginning of B. I do not suggest that we have a predilection for duple grouping.

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