By Carrie Warts
Let me tell you a fascinating story about the origin of rhythm and its meaning.
The word rhythm comes from the Greek word “rhythmos”, meaning “recurring and regular motion”. But the word rhythm also has its origins in another Greek word, “rheîn”, which means “to flow”.
Just like seconds give pulse to minutes, rhythm gives pulse to music. Having said that, rhythm is necessary when you want to create or listen to music. Without rhythm it’s not music but rather random sounds. And believe it or not, rhythm has also been part of our communication since the beginning of time.
Whether it was through vocal sounds or the clash of two rocks to make a noise to warn or call others, rhythm has always played an important role in society. Even before we are born, rhythm is essential, starting with our own heartbeats. Along with that, the moon’s cycle regulates the waves in the ocean. The minutes, hours, days, years, seasons and planet motions are also rhythmic examples in our day-to-day lives.
Our very own languages and how we speak (our individual accents for that matter) are also strong examples of rhythm. Some languages are stronger, very marked and steady. Others have a soft, even “neutral” accent with a particular rhythm. Syllables create flow in our words. Even poetry has its own tempo.
Dance is also highly influenced by rhythm. Whether it is your national dance and anthem or the popular pop song on the radio nowadays, their rhythm invites us to dance according to what we feel through it and the beat it has.
Throughout history, music and rhythm have been used by many cultures and religions as a way to pass down wisdom, history and stories. This is where we find the songs people sing in churches. Lullabies our relatives sang to us when we were kids. Love stories too, amongst other styles and genres.
So, whether you like classical music, heavy metal, poetry, dance, or all of them, remember that rhythm always starts deep within you.