Rhythm of the Classical Era

by: Staci Strickland and Edd Benda

• The rhythm is simple and regular
• Infrequent changes of pace within a movement. 
• The propulsion stems from rhythmic patterns in the accompaniment or from the bass accenting the beats while other voices play the off-beats. 
• The music may alternate between different lengths of notes but it never strays from its general rhythm. 
• Use of motifs was very common
• The rhythm that was developed in the exposition was used throughout the development and the recapitulation
• Changes of meter and some simple syncopated rhythms were used

• Sudden accentuations on strong and weak beats/displaced accents
• Rhythmic pulsation in the motifs which propels the music forward
• Very Symmetric
• Silence was used for effect