To ‘Raise and Quell’: the Emotional Pulse

Abstract

This article describes the importance of rhythm in controlling the emotional state of the listener. Rhythmic impulses originate in the human body, through movement and speech. The ancient writers and orators noted how different rhythms in speech could affect the feelings of an audience. When rhetoric began to influence musical composition in the 16th century, composers were quick to realize the potential for expressing emotion by using various rhythmic devices borrowed from speech patterns. The manner of performance also influences the way these devices are received by the listener.