Polymetrie

Polymetrie is a musical concept describing the simultaneous use of two or more independent meters within a single composition. In a polymetric texture, different voices or instrumental lines emphasize distinct time signatures, so that one part might be in 3/4 while another remains in 4/4, or more complex combinations such as 7/8 against 5/8. The meters run concurrently and may realign only at longer intervals when the least common multiple of the involved meters is reached. The term derives from Greek roots poly- “many” and metron “measure.” It is closely related to polymeter, and is often discussed together with polyrhythm and cross-rhythm, though each term highlights a different aspect of rhythmic layering.

Polymetrie can be realized through independent phrasing, cross-accentuation, or explicit notation that marks multiple meters within the same score, sometimes with metrical modulation to shift from one meter to another over time. In performance, musicians must maintain precise timing relative to their own meter while staying coordinated with other layers.

Historically, polymetric textures appear in various world music traditions, particularly in African drumming traditions and Balkan folk music, and they have been studied and applied in Western classical music since the 20th century. Composers such as Iannis Xenakis and others in experimental music have developed complex polymetric systems, while some modern progressive rock and metal bands employ polymetric sections to create contrasting grooves. Polymetrie is thus a tool for expressing rhythmic complexity and structural layering.