but it's actually found everywhere in the world around us.

但 其實生活周遭到處都能找到節奏

From the ocean tides to our own heart beats,

從海洋潮汐 到心臟躍動

rhythm is essentially an event repeating regularly over time.

基本上 節奏就是一段規律重複的事件

Even the ticking of a clock itself is a sort of rhythm.

甚至連鐘錶滴答本身都是一種節奏

But for musical rhythm, a steady stream of repeating single beats is not enough.

但是 音樂性的節奏 可不只是規律重複的單音

For that we need at least one opposing beat with a different sound,

至少需要兩個對比的節拍及音高

which can be the unstressed off beat or the accented back beat.

可以是輕鬆的弱拍 也可以是重重的強拍

There are several ways to make these beats distinct,

有好幾種方法可以讓拍子產生區別

whether by using high and low drums

像是用高低音鼓

or long and short beats,

或是用長短音來區分

which ends up being heard as the main beat is not a precise rule

最後就變成了主旋律 這沒有確切規則

but like the famous Rubin's vase, can be reversed depending on cultural perception.

但就像有名的魯賓之盃 可依不同文化觀點來翻轉

In standard notation, rhythm is indicated on a musical bar line.

傳統樂譜上 節奏是在五線譜上呈現

But there are other ways.

但還有別的呈現方法

Remember that ticking clock?

還記得那個滴答的時鐘嗎?

Just as its round face can trace the linear passage of time,

圓形的鐘面能表示線性的時間

the flow of rhythm can be traced in a circle.

節奏的流動同樣也能用圓形表示

The continuity of a wheel can be a more intuitive way to visualize rhythm

輪子的轉動能更直覺地將節奏視覺化

than a linear score that requires moving back and forth along the page.

不像五線譜一樣需要在頁面上來回檢視

We can mark the beats at different positions around a circle

我們可以把節拍標在圓內的各個位置

using blue dots for main beats, orange ones for off beats

藍點表示強拍 橘點表示弱拍

and white dots for secondary beats.

白點表示次強拍

Here is a basic two beat rhythm with a main beat and an opposing off beat.

基本的二拍子 就是一個強拍和一個弱拍

Or a three beat rhythm with a main beat, an off beat and a secondary beat

三拍子則是 一個強拍 一個弱拍 一個次強拍

And the spaces between each beat can be divided into further sub-beats

每個節拍的空檔 可以再分成次節拍

using multiples of either two or three.

節拍數不是二 就是三的倍數

Layering multiple patterns using concentric wheels

用同心圓來表示各種節拍模式

lets us create more complex rhythms.

可以創造出更複雜的節奏

For example, we can combine a basic two beat rhythm with off beats to get a four beat system.

例如 可以把基本的二拍子 加上兩個弱拍 變成四拍子

This is the recognizable backbone of many genres popular around the world,

這是很多種曲風都會使用的基本節奏

from rock,

像是搖滾

country

鄉村

and jazz

爵士

to reggae

雷鬼

and cumbia.

還有昆比亞舞曲

Or we can combine a two beat rhythm with a three beat one.

或者 也可以把兩拍子和三拍子合在一起

Eliminating the extra main beat and rotating the inner wheel

把多餘的主拍去掉 調整一下內圈

leaves us with a rhythm whose underlying feel is three-four.

就產生一個基本的三四拍

This is the basis of the music of Whirling Dervishes

這是土耳其迴旋舞曲的基礎

as well as a broad range of Latin American rhythms,

也是大多數拉丁舞曲的節奏

such as Joropo

像是委內瑞拉的霍洛璞舞

and even Bach's famous Chaconne.

甚至連巴哈著名的夏康舞曲也是

Now, if we remember Rubin's vase and hear the off beats as the main beats,this will give us a six-eighth feel

還記得魯賓之盃吧? 如果把弱拍當成主拍 就成了六八拍

as found in genres such as Chacarera

像是阿根廷的查卡瑞拉民謠

and Quechua,

祕魯原住民音樂Quechua

Persian music and more.

還有波斯音樂等等

In an eight beat system, we have three layered circles,

在八拍子體系中 同心圓會有三圈

each rhythm played by a different instrument.

每圈由不同樂器演奏

We can then add an outermost layer consisting of an additive rhythmic component,

外面可以再加上一圈 增加一層節奏元素

reinforcing the main beat and increasing accuracy.

加強主拍及準確度

Now, let's remove everything except for this combined rhythm and the basic two beat on top.

現在 去掉所有節拍 留下最外層 還有兩個基礎節拍

This rhythmic configuration is found as the Cuban cinquillo,

這樣的結構被發現是古巴的Cinquillo （一種節奏名）

in the Puerto Rican bomba

還有波多黎各Bomba

and in Northern Romanian music.

以及北羅馬尼亞的音樂裡

And rotating the outer circle 90 degrees counterclockwise gives us a pattern often found in Middle Eastern music

將外圈逆時針轉九十度 出現另一種結構 常出現在中東音樂

as well as Brazilian choro

還有巴西Choro

and Argentinian tango.

以及阿根廷探戈

In all of these examples, the underlying rhythm reinforces the basic one-two

以上這些例子 都是基於二拍子 然後再加強衍伸

but in different ways depending on arrangement and cultural context.

依文化及安排架構 而有所不同

So it turns out that the wheel method is more than just a nifty way of visualizing complex rhythms

用圓形表示節奏 不只能俏皮地將複雜節奏視覺化

By freeing us from the tyranny of the bar line,

也能讓我們脫離五線譜的專制獨裁

we can visualize rhythm in terms of time

節奏能像時間一樣呈現

and a simple turn of the wheel can take us on a musical journey around the world.

輕輕轉一下 音樂輪就能帶我們環遊音樂世界