What is it called when 2/2 is imposed in 3/4?
What is the name in music theory for when the feel of 2/2 is imposed in 3/4 time? For example in Waltz No. 2 by Shoshtakovich (i think its that one) there is a section about midway through where its 3/4, but the melody plays half notes for about 6 measures or so. Im not sure how exactly to explain it.
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I think you are asking about hemiola a combination of a 2 pattern and a 3 pattern.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hemiola
Using accent marks > in 3/4 it would be like...
> > > > > > 3/4 | / / / | / / / | / / / | / / / |
The hemiola effect can be realized in a score in a variety of ways:
accents like in my example above
the use of beaming in multiples of 2 against a meter of 3
simply changing chords on the pattern of 2 in a meter of 3 is enough to make hemiola felt
However the effect is created the meter of 3 needs to established as the base from which the pattern of 2 conflicts. For example, you would need to accent in 3's first to establish the 3/4 meter then shift temporarily to a pattern of accents in 2's. Or, you would need to simultaneously play accents in 2's and 3's. This pattern conflict is essential for hemiola. If the music doesn't have a proper hemiola treatment it could simply sound like a meter change.
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