Ritme

Ritme, in music and in a broader sense, refers to the pattern of sounds and silences in time. It describes how long notes and rests last, how often the beat occurs, and how these elements are grouped and accented. The concept is central to timing and movement in music, dance, and speech, and it interacts with tempo, meter, and rhythm itself.

Key elements of ritme include the beat, which is the regular pulse; tempo, the speed of that pulse; and meter, the recurring grouping of beats into measures. The rhythm itself is the sequence of note durations and rests, including subdivisions such as eighth notes and sixteenth notes. Accents and syncopation add emphasis and variety by stressing certain beats or shifting the expected pattern.

Notationally, ritme is conveyed through note values (whole, half, quarter notes, etc.), rests, and time signatures that define the meter. Tempo markings indicate speed, while performance practice and style influence how strictly or freely the rhythm is observed. Rhythmic devices such as ostinato, polyrhythm, and syncopation are common tools in composition and improvisation. Common meters include 4/4, 3/4, and 6/8, though many traditions use varied and complex rhythmic structures.

Ritme plays a central role beyond music as well. It shapes dance and movement, affects the cadence of speech and poetry, and appears in biological contexts as circadian rhythms. In practice, musicians and speakers use rhythm to organize timing, create groove, and convey expression; listeners perceive rhythm as a defining aspect of how music and language feel and function.