Figure 1.55

Division Groupings

A seven-meter might be grouped 2+2+3, 3+2+2, or 2+3+2, and so forth for other
asymmetrical meters. It is possible to construct asymmetrical divisions from typical
meters by irregular groupings. For example,

Figure 1.56

Other Meters and Sample Groupings

Until the 20th Century, there were relatively few examples of asymmetrical meter
in the literature. A notable exception is the second movement of Tchaikovsky’s
Sixth Symphony (

Páthetique

) (in 5).

Symphony No. 6, II

See this link:

http://imslp.org/wiki/Symphony_No.6,_Op.74_(Tchaikovsky,_Pyotr_Ilyich)

Asymmetrical meter is a hallmark of 20th- and 21st-century music, in both classical
and vernacular genre. Composers freely employed asymmetrical meters for entire

8

8 might be grouped as 3 + 3 + 2

5

8 might be grouped as 3 + 2 + 2 + 2

10

5 might be grouped as 3 + 3 + 2 + 2 and so forth

Chapter 1 The Elements of Rhythm: Sound, Symbol, and Time

1.4 Additional Information

48