Hemiola is a rhythm device that occurs when there are 3 beats in a measure to bring attention to musical cadences. A ‘cadence’ is a musical arrival point.
Hemiola is a grouping of accented beats that forms a rhythmic flow that is twice as slow as the main beat. (Or half as fast)
The Hemiola is most often utilized before the end of a composition, large section or phrase.
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The pattern of Three Implied Half-Notes, form the Hemiola above.
Measures 2 and 3 above display a half note, a tied quarter-note to a quarter note, (an across the bar line ‘half-note’) and another half-note.
WALTZ TIME (3-4) with HEMIOLA
Hemiolas can create the effect of a Ritardando.
The Hemiola forms a slower beat pattern of 3 Implied Half-Notes.
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