rythme

Rythme is the organization of duration in music—the pattern of sounds and silences in time. In English it is rhythm; in many languages including French, the term is spelled rythme. It encompasses tempo, meter, and the duration of notes and rests, as well as the accents that give a pattern its momentum.

Tempo is the speed of the underlying beat. Meter groups beats into measures, typically marked by time signatures such as 4/4 or 3/4. Note values (whole, half, quarter, eighth, sixteenth) and corresponding rests specify exact durations. Rhythms are heard as patterns of long and short notes, often with accents or syncopation that emphasize weak or offbeat positions.

Notation: rhythms are written on staves with stems and flags, but the concept predates modern notation. In many traditions, rhythms are taught through clapping, counting, or percussion patterns, and may employ rhythmic devices such as ostinatos, polyrhythms, or cross-rhythms.

Types: simple meters have all beats divisible by two, compound meters by three; irregular meters have five, seven, or other numbers of beats per measure. Polyrhythms layer contrasting rhythmic patterns. Cross-rhythm and syncopation create tension and variety; many traditions develop distinctive rhythmic vocabularies in genres ranging from classical to popular music.

Impact: rhythm drives movement, supports phrasing, and forms the basis of groove in many genres. Rhythm analysis also informs performance, composition, and studies of music cognition.