Lesson 4: Meters in 6, 9, and 12

0:02- [Instructor] Here is an example of 6/4 time from American composer Joseph Schwantner's The Poet's Hour. Six beats in a measure with the quarter note getting one beat. ("The Poet's Hour") The next meter that we will discuss is 6/8. Six beats in a measure with the eighth note getting one beat.

0:45This one is a little more complicated because at a slow tempo or a slow speed we can think of each measure with six beats in a bar. But if a tempo is fast, we divide the bar into two beats with each beat worth three eighth notes or a dotted quarter. For a slow version of 6/8, let's listen to this beautiful passage for the oboes and English horn from Ravel's ballet, Daphnis et Chloe.

1:12(gentle music) For a fast version, let's listen to part of the Firebird's Variation from Stravinsky's ballet, The Firebird. (bright music) 9/8 continues with the same pattern. In a slow speed or tempo, each eighth note receives one beat, with nine beats in a bar.

1:58In a faster tempo, the pulse is three, with a dotted quarter note receiving one pulse or one beat. 12/8 continues in the same pattern. In a slow tempo, 12 beats in a measure with an eighth note receiving one beat. If we look at the opening of Stravinsky's Firebird, we see 12/8 at the slow temp with a feeling of 12 beats in a measure.

2:23(deep somber music) If we look at the same introduction a few bars later, the pulse moves to four beats with a dotted quarter note getting one beat. (light airy music)