Meter
(MEE-ter)

Measure of time; arrangement of poetical feet; the grouping of beats into regular patterns. The organization of rhythmic patterns in a composition in such a way that a regular, repeating pulse of beats may continue throughout the composition.

More about meter.

SUGGESTED LISTENING EXAMPLES:

Meter, compound:
Prokofiev: Violin Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 63, II
W. W. Norton - 4-CD Musical Example Bank -- Disc 1, Track 12
Corelli: Violin Sonata in A major, Op. 5, No. 9, "Gigue"
W. W. Norton - 4-CD Musical Example Bank -- Disc 2, Track 61
Handel: Messiah, No. 9, "O thou that tellest"
W. W. Norton - 4-CD Musical Example Bank -- Disc 1, Track 55
Villa-Lobos: Bachianas Brasileiras, No 5, I
W. W. Norton - 4-CD Musical Example Bank -- Disc 3, Track 70

Meter, duple:
Beethoven: The Ruins of Athens, Op. 113, No. 4, "Turkish March"

W. W. Norton - 4-CD Musical Example Bank -- Disc 1, Track 9
Khatchaturian: Gayne Suite No. 1, "Sabre Dance"
W. W. Norton - 4-CD Musical Example Bank -- Disc 1, Track 29
Mahler: Symphony No. 1 in D major, III
W. W. Norton - 4-CD Musical Example Bank -- Disc 1, Track 28
Poulenc: Gloria in G major, "Laudamus te" (ending)
W. W. Norton - 4-CD Musical Example Bank -- Disc 2, Track 26
Sousa: The Stars and Stripes Forever
W. W. Norton - 4-CD Musical Example Bank -- Disc 2, Track 35

Meter, quadruple:
Brahms: Symphony No. 1 in C minor, Op. 68, IV (main theme, strings)

W. W. Norton - 4-CD Musical Example Bank -- Disc 1, Track 11
Bach, C. P. E.: Trio Sonata in G major, I
W. W. Norton - 4-CD Musical Example Bank -- Disc 2, Track 66
Grieg: Peer Gynt Suite, Op. 46, No. 1, "Ase's Death"
W. W. Norton - 4-CD Musical Example Bank -- Disc 1, Track 67
Mozart: Sinfonia Concertante for Violin and Viola in E-flat major, K. 364, I (conclusion, orchestral exposition)
W. W. Norton - 4-CD Musical Example Bank -- Disc 3, Track 4

Meter, shifting, 20th century:
Copland: Appalachian Spring, Moderato

W. W. Norton - 4-CD Musical Example Bank -- Disc 1, Track 2
Ravel: Rapsodie espagnole, "Feria" (middle section)
W. W. Norton - 4-CD Musical Example Bank -- Disc 1, Track 65

Meter, triple:
Vivaldi: The Four Seasons, Op. 8, No. 3, "Autumn"

W. W. Norton - 4-CD Musical Example Bank -- Disc 1, Track 10
Shostakovich: Ballet Suite No. 1, "Music Box Waltz"
W. W. Norton - 4-CD Musical Example Bank -- Disc 2, Track 20
Verdi: Rigoletto, "La donna é mobile"
W. W. Norton - 4-CD Musical Example Bank -- Disc 1, Track 56
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