Re: GDP glossary question: complex meters

[Anh Hai Trinh]

> How can we normalize the terminology?  Here are my thoughts on the  
> matter,
> trying to distill this into a controlled lexicon --
>
> * polymeter -- the most generic term
>     * sequential polymeter -- Ralph's definition
>         * regular
>         * irregular
>     * simultaneous polymeter -- Valentin's definition
>         * regular and irregular (theoretically)
>
> And here's what happens to the list of terms above:
>
> * polymetric time signature
> Deleted: although it implies sequential polymeter, it has too many  
> possible
> interpretations to be useful.
>
> * double time signature
> * compound time signature
> * additive time signatures
> * alternating time signatures
>
> Become "See also _sequential polymeter, regular_"
>
> * mixed meter / mixed time signatures
> Becomes "See also "sequential polymeter, irregular_"


I have never heard the term polymeter. It does not show up in Grove Music  
Online (actually once but refering to poetic meter), not a good sign! And  
according to Wikipedia, polymeter implies polyrhythm and therefore is  
equivalent to your "simulatenous polymeter"  
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polymeter>. That term should be out!

The equivalent term to your "sequential polymeter" that I've heared and  
used is "changing meters" or "irregular meter".

* double time sig -- too ambigous whether it's simultaneous or sequential
* compound time sig -- this is a well established term refering to meter  
such as 6/8, 9/8, 6/4, etc. in contrast to simple meters such as 3/8, 3/4,  
etc.
* additive time sig -- could mean sth like (3 + 3 + 2)/8 or could mean  
irregular meters a la Messian
* alternating time sig -- a special case of changing/irregular meter

--AT