A rhythmic gesture is a durational pattern which, in contrast to a rhythmic unit, does not occupy a period of time equivalent to a pulse or pulses on an underlying metric level. (DeLone et al. (Eds.), 1975, chap. 3)

They may be described according to their beginnings and endings or as to the rhythmic units they contain. Beginnings on a strong pulse are thetic, a weak pulse, anacrustic, and those beginning after a rest or tied-over note are called initial rest. Endings on a strong pulse are strong, a weak pulse, weak, and those which end on a strong or weak upbeat are upbeat. (DeLone et al. (Eds.), 1975, chap. 3)

References

• DeLone et al. (Eds.) (1975). Aspects of Twentieth-Century Music. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall. ISBN 0-13-049346-5.

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