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1.157 hemiola
ES: hemiolia, I: emiolia, (rarely hemiola or emiola), F: hémiole, D: Hemiole, NL: ?, DK: ?, S: ?, FI: hemioli, 3/2 -suhde.
[Greek: in Latin, sesquialtera] The ratio 3:2.
Most frequently, a proportion (q.v.) of three notes of equal value in the time normally occupied by two. The resulting rhythm can be expressed in modern terms as a substitution (for example) of a bar in 3/2 for one of 6/4, or of a bar in 3/4 for one of 6/8. During the Baroque era, hemiola is most frequently as a special effect (or affect) at cadences.
For example, this phrase in 6/4 time
![[image of music]](../b4/lily-26686917.png)
may be thought of having alternating time signatures
![[image of music]](../4f/lily-5f93cd05.png)
and is therefore a polymeter (second definition) of considerable antiquity.
See also
mensural notation, meter, polymeter, proportion.
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