hemiola

[hem-ee-oh-luh]

noun

Music.

1. a rhythmic pattern of syncopated beats with two beats in the time of three or three beats in the time of two.

hemiola

/ ˌhɛmɪˈɒlɪk, ˌhɛmɪˈəʊlə /

noun

1. Also called: sesquialtera. music a rhythmic device involving the superimposition of, for example, two notes in the time of three

Other Word Forms

• hemiolic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of hemiola¹

1590–1600; < Medieval Latin hēmiolia < Greek hēmiolía the ratio of one and a half to one, feminine of hēmiolíos half as large again, equivalent to hēmi- hemi- + ( h ) ól ( os ) whole + -ios adj. suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of hemiola¹

New Latin, from Greek hēmiolia ratio of one to one and a half, from _hemi- + ( h ) olos whole

Example Sentences

The heroic opening heralded a propulsive interpretation, guided by hemiola rhythms but emphasized in mighty sforzando accents and thrillingly veering dynamics.

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In “Marimba,” the accented upper line creates the hemiola with a group of three notes in syncopation against the groups of two.

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Where “Xylophone” relies on syncopation, though, “Marimba” works through a related compositional element known as hemiola.

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A hemiola is a specific type of syncopation, featuring three beats where you would intuitively expect two.

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The influence of oOther composers’ influence shone through, too, with barbaric-edged Shostakovich in the third movement and folklike hemiola patterns, recalling Brahms or Dvorak, in the fandango-fast finale.

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