An Analytical and Educational Survey of Roger Boutry's Mtachrome

Chapter 6RHYTHMThe meter in Roger Boutry's Metachrome changes between duple and triple in all threemovements. The common rhythmic elements used in this composition are syncopation, theplacement of accents, and hocketing.Every movement of this composition includes meter changes. In the first movement, theintroduction and transitions that use the introductory motive are always in 4/4. The primarytheme is in 3/4, the second theme is in 4/4, and the closing theme is a mixture of the two.Interestingly, in the first movement there are two measures in 5/8 (MM. 171-172), which is theonly time this occurs through the entire composition, perhaps to represent the duple and triplerhythmic feel in the same meter. In the second movement, however, the meters are inverted fromthe first movement. The introduction is in 3/4 while the melody, derived from the primary themeof the first movement, is in 4/4.The third movement incorporates all of the above. The second theme is presented in 3/4with a 2/4 measure concluding the phrases.Like the two 5/8 measures from the first movement, perhaps this is to combine the duple andtriple rhythmic feel. Use the following chart to visualize the similarities and differences in meteramong the themes and motives in the three movements.