Rhythmusfolge

Rhythmusfolge, literally "rhythmic sequence" in German, is a term used in music theory to describe the organization of rhythmic patterns over time. It refers to the order, repetition, and transformation of durations and rests that form a rhythmic cell or motif within a passage. An analyst might identify a Rhythmusfolge by isolating a recurring sequence of values—such as short-long-short or a syncopated figure—and tracing how it recurs across measures to shape phrasing and momentum.

Rhythmic sequences can be developed by repeating a motif at different positions in the measure, by shifting it across beats, or by altering its values through augmentation or diminution while preserving its basic shape. In some contexts, the same rhythmic idea may be applied to different pitches, or it may accompany a transposed melodic sequence. The concept is partly analogous to melodic sequencing, but focused on rhythm rather than pitch.

Applications appear throughout music history. Composers use Rhythmusfolge to create coherence, propel the tempo, or establish a characteristic groove. In pedagogy, recognizing rhythmic cells and their transformations supports rhythm reading, listening, and analytical skills.

In notation and analysis, the Rhythmusfolge is discussed alongside related ideas such as rhythmic motif, ostinato, syncopation, and meter. See also rhythm, meter, rhythmic motif, and rhythmic sequence.