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LOL SSC - quoting from our old lesson thread .... good ole days weren't they? SO, my prior post would fall in the meter to emphasize a base pulse category. Funny thing, I have encountered composition teachers who dissuade students from the third approach of meter - changing it up to make it very difficult to follow the rhythm in any organic manner (though Messiaen doesn't do this all the time - in his second rhythmic etude for piano, he writes in his preface he keeps the meter 2/4 throughout as to simplify the organization of the piece - Here is just a portion of what he says about the etude - "The great novelty lies in the number of note-values used in this piece. Even in the works of Stravinsky, Jolivet and Boulez, few note -values are used , despite irrational values (two against three, triplets which cross the bar line, and so forth) ... The piece is written in a virtual 2/4, in order to facilitate performance (!)" Funny thing about this Etude is despite his successful efforts to make it easier to READ, it remains quite difficult to play well as he uses 24 different note values, 12 touches and 7 dynamic levels!! And there is not strong sense of a 2/4 pulse or any rhythm except for the occasional pedal notes struck in the lowest registers (showing Messiaen could not get away from being the organist he always was!). Here is the piece and the poster has graciously posted the introduction to the piece - enjoy SSC and all - the piece is quite gorgeous! Feel free to correct any misstatements. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ME5laJctGCo&feature=related

I don't think anyone wanted to be mean like that, but that's absolutely true! Wait I can vote on my own posts¿!?$e029e

Maybe it's a lesson in not being sucked in to analytical discussions when you don't have time to analyze the piece.