Approaches of rhythm on Brahms Op.

101 Third movement

By Juan Sebastian Cardona Ospina

The piece starts in 3/4 followed by two measures of 2/4, and that pattern will be stablished
for a while. The pulse will be always in eight notes and the tactus sometimes in quartet or
dotted quartet notes.

In measure 1 to 3 we find the first hypermeter unit (Red line). Just three measures and 14
eights notes. The next three hypermeter works in the same way, the only difference among
them is that the third and fourth one are in the piano.

In measure 13 even when the hypermeter stays in the same way than before, we find a
metric dissonance there, because in the violoncello we perceive a 6/8, (This perception is
accented by the high pitch in the fourth eight note) and in the violin a ¾.

The next hypermeter starts at measure 15, but this one is extended by an additional eight
note. We perceive measure 18 grouping in this way: two eight notes and three eight notes,
like a 5/8, however, because the slur in the violin, looks like it is extended until the second
eight note. I think that here performers can make different decisions here, for example the
performance of The Israel Piano Trio in its album Brahms piano trios Op. 8, 87 & 101, does
not take the slur as the end of the phrase but as the beginning of the next one.

And the next hypermeter starts in the second eight note of measure 19. This could be
understood as a 5/8 meter, 3+2. However, like we said before, it could be interpreted as the
C in the cello and the E in the violin as a pick-up of a 2/4 meter.

Measure 22 is the beginning of a new hypermeter unit of 4 measures. The difference

between this one and the others before similar to this, is that a 3/4 meter is added. Then it
is followed by a short unit of two measures of 2/4.

Measure 28 is a new unit of three measures that does not disturb our expectations. But in
the other hand, the next hypermeter is composed by three measures, one is 3/4 and two of
2/4, and ending in the first eight note of measure 34. That end is at the same time the
beginning of the new unit in the strings. Now, how is it put together? The pulse will be
2+2+3+2+3+3.

The hypermeter that starts at measure 34 is overlapped with the previous one but just on
the strings, maybe we can call those pizzicato as a pick-up to the second eight note of the
measure 35. In that regard, the pulse in measure 34 will be 3+2.
Six measures of a hypermeter unit are what follows in measure 37. The analysis here is
different to the one in measure 22 because here are not significant pitches changes that
make us think about a new unit.

Right in the change of time signature starts three units, each one of two measures. But in
measure 49 even when it is a unit of two measures, it is overlapped by during three eight
notes at the end with the beginning of the next unit. That unit (Two and a half measure long)
at the same time is overlapped in the same way by the next unit. Similar process will happen
until the first dotted quartet note in measure 59. Afterwards, comes a unit of three quartet
notes, followed by a 3/8, 3/4, 3/8, 3/4 and 9/8 but grouped in two eight notes with an accent
each two.

In Measure 63 we find a group of four hypermeter units of two measures. A different unit
comes at measure 71 where the Tactus is in dotted quartet notes in the first measure, then
the Tactus changes to six quartet notes, followed for a dotted quartet rest (tactus again in
dotted quartet).

In the letter B we find three regular units of three measures, but the singularity is that in
measures 76 and 79, there is a metric dissonance between violin and cello, the cello plays
a triplet and the violin two eight notes.

In measure 90 the hypermeter units that start there go to the first eight note of measure 93.
The next unit starts at the second eight note, but it is a “pick-up” of the second Tactus of the
measure (At the same point the strings make the pizzicato). Then it is followed by a unit of
six measures.

The 9/8 is the point where a new set of hypermeter units will start, each of them with two
measures of length. Or a different interpretation could be two different units of four
measures.
 8

14

22
 29

35

41

48
 54

60

67

73
 81

89

97

103