rytm

Rytm is a central concept in music and poetics that describes the pattern of durations of sounds and silences in time. In Polish, rytm denotes what English speakers call rhythm. Its etymology traces to Greek rhythmos, via Latin rhythmus, and into many European languages.

In music, rhythm uses a steady pulse called the beat, with tempo indicating speed. Beats are grouped into meters, shown by time signatures such as 4/4, 3/4, or 6/8. Note values define duration; rests indicate silence. Rhythm also features accents, syncopation, and rhythmic figures that help shape a piece without changing pitch.

Rhythm provides structure and drive, shaping melody and harmony. Different genres emphasize rhythm in various ways: dance music favors a regular pulse, while certain art music may employ changing meters or complex rhythmic patterns to create contrast and color.

Rhythm also appears in language and poetry. Prosody studies patterns of stress and syllable length, producing cadence and musicality in spoken language and verse.

Rytm is thus a cross-disciplinary concept describing temporal organization in sound and speech, fundamental to performance, composition, and perception.