The Poetry of Prediction: Musical Time, Rhythm and Groove

JavaScript isn't enabled in your browser, so this file can't be opened. Enable and reload.

This lecture demonstrates how music harnesses our unique and intricate listening faculties creating a complex interplay between sounding events and our internal predictions. This forms a predictive tapestry whereby the listener - usually unconsciously - ‘explains’ temporal events in reference to multi-layered streams of expectational waves. How musicians exploit such expressive opportunities is explored in a wide range of musical styles.

This survey is concerned with music, its composers and the effects that a particular track has on you. This survey is entirely optional and anonymous, but any details you share may be discussed in the Gresham lecture The Poetry of Prediction (9th November 2023): https://www.gresham.ac.uk/whats-on/music-groove

PART 1. Please think of a piece of music with rhythmic material that particularly engages you. This might mean an infectious impulse to move with the music, a deeply mesmerising pattern, or rhythms that induces a transformative sense of excitement, calm or other emotion.

1a. Name the artist or composer of the piece.

1b. Name the title of the piece.

1c. Please describe – in as much detail as you like – the details and quality of the rhythmic features and their effect on you.

PART 2. Now think of a piece or passage of music which you find particularly rhythmically surprising or unexpected. This might be a surprising change in rhythmic flow, or a moment that feels deceptive, baffling or unexpectedly delightful.

2a. Name the artist or composer of the piece.

2b. Name the title of the piece.

2c. Describe – in as much detail as you like – where in the piece this rhythmic feature occurs, and the nature and effect of the surprising or confounding material.

Many thanks for taking part.

Submit

Clear form

Never submit passwords through Google Forms.

This form was created inside of Gresham College. Report Abuse

Forms