Tempoet

Tempoet is a fictional construct used in speculative music theory to model rapid tempo fluctuations within a metrical framework. It conceptualizes tempo as divisible into small, discrete timing events called tempoets, which aggregate to form the overall tempo profile of a passage.

The term tempoet is coined from tempo and the diminutive suffix -et. It appears in theoretical discussions and in narrative design to describe micro-timing phenomena separate from the gross tempo, providing a labeled unit for analyzing how tempo can shift within a beat without changing the written tempo mark.

Mechanics of tempoets describe them as discrete timing events with a duration that can be expressed in milliseconds or as fractions of a measure. A tempoet rate determines how many tempoets occur per beat, and tempoets can accelerate or decelerate independently of the global tempo. In notation, tempoets are imagined as extended symbols or annotations that operate alongside standard note values to indicate local timing adjustments without altering the primary tempo marking.

History and usage of the concept arose in early experimental musicology discussions and in speculative fiction that explores rhythm and perception. As a theoretical tool, tempoet provides a way to discuss layers of timing that contribute to rhythmic texture and expressive timing, such as micro-rubato or velocity-based pacing, within a consistent framework.

Reception and relation: tempoet is often seen as overlapping with rubato and microtiming concepts and is valued by researchers and designers for algorithmic composition and sound design. It is not part of standard musical notation, but serves as a convenient abstraction in theoretical explorations and fictional contexts.

See also: tempo, rubato, microtiming, algorithmic composition.