42 THE NATURE OF MUSIC 



fluence of rhythm as implied by the word now, A 

 tone being an accentual moment, a series of tones is 

 a series of accentual moments. We will study and 

 analyze these accentual moments. I have already 

 said that they hold the key to the harmonic form and 

 relation of tone, which is the secret of music. This 

 key is latent in all of us; all may discover it. 



25. Rhythmic adence and Rhythm-Repose 

 The analysis of rhythmic periods of time is the sub- 

 ject before us. Each period is marked by an accent. 

 Some accents are heavier, some are lighter. Heavier 

 and lighter accents alternate in such a way that the 

 heavier accents recur regularly in time. These alter- 

 nating accents are alternating accentual moments. 

 Periods marked by heavier accents are called heavy 

 periods, those marked by lighter accents are called 

 light periods. Heavy periods marked by heavier 

 accents are moments of stability, repose, balance, 

 centres of gravity, moments of equilibrium. Light 

 periods marked by lighter accents are moments of 

 instability, unrest, unbalance; they are in relative 

 equilibrium, in cadence ; they impel us to move for- 

 ward to a heavy period for repose, balance. Rhythmi- 

 cally we are therefore in cadence on lighter accents, in 

 repose on heavier accents. This rhythmic movement 

 of regularly alternating cadence-moments and repose- 

 moments is illustrated below : — 



