nguage is one of the primary and most significant sources |
| of poetical effect, but it should never be confused with the |
| musical term on which it is patterned. |
+--------------------------------------------------------------+

What is the relation of these physical attributes of sound to sound
rhythm? The answer lies in a closer examination of the nature of rhythm,
especially as it concerns the rhythm of speech.

Rhythm means measured flow or succession. Now first, in order that any
succession may be measured, there must be something recognizable which
distinguishes one unit from the next. In spatial rhythms the point of
division is almost always easily perceived; hence the greater difficulty
of analyzing the simplest time-rhythms as compared with the most complex
space-rhythms. Moreover, the basis of measurement, that by which the
'distance' between any point of division and that which follows it is
determined, must, by definition, be duration of time. Suppose, however,
that the time-distance between successive points of emphasis or division
is equal, is the rhythm therefore necessarily regular? No, because the
points of emphasis themselves may vary in force or energy. Thus if in
the following scheme (A' = point of emphasis; -= equal time-distance):

A'-A'-A'-A'-A'-A'-etc.

every A' is not of the same value, the result might be (A'A'= twice as much
emphasis as A';A'A'A' = three times as much):

A'A'-A'-A'A'A'-A'A'-A'A'A'-etc.

and this could not be called regular. A simple illustration of this is
the difference in music between 3/4 time, where we count 1A' 2 3, 1A' 2 3,
1A' 2 3 and 6/4 or 6/8 time, where we count 1A'A' 2 3 4A' 5 6, 1A'A' 2 3 4A' 5
6. Furthermore, apart from any question of force or energy applied in
the production of a sound, it is clear that high notes seem to possess a
greater strength than low notes, and must therefore be recognized as an
element in rhythmic emphasis. For example, if the following series of
notes were sounded on a piano, and each struck with equal force--

[Illustration: Musical notes--A E A E A E] etc.

a certain 'accent' would probably be felt on the _e_ which was not felt
on the _a_. And it is well known that shrill sounds and high-pitched
voices carry farther and _seem louder_ than others.

In the simplest kind of temporal rhythm, therefore, where the beats are,
say, drum-taps of equal force, the primary element is time. But if