Definition

A musical term referring to a group of three notes played in the time of two, often used in medieval music, or the interval of a perfect fifth.

Example

The composer used hemiolia to create a unique rhythm in the piece.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of hemiolia in music?

I think I've come across that term, but I'm not sure what it means.

It's a cool musical technique where you play three notes instead of two.

That sounds interesting! I love learning about different music concepts.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Hemiolia → It is formed from "hemi-" (from Greek "hēmi-", meaning half) and "olios" (from Greek "holos", meaning whole). The term refers to a rhythmic pattern that is perceived as a half of a whole, often used in music to describe a specific type of meter.

Memory Tip

Think of 'half' ('hemi-') of a 'whole' ('holos') to remember that 'hemiolia' describes a rhythmic pattern that feels like half of a complete measure.

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