Time and Music

The study attempts to demonstrate that time is not solely an intrinsic measure of music. Although it manifests itself directly through durations, rhythm and musical form, time has represented, to certain authors, a quality that can be modelled on three different levels: composition, performance and reception. The paper reveals ways of perceiving musical time, identifies particularities of various cultures, and underlines the active role of rests. Tracing the evolution of preoccupations toward these aspects, it examines compositions and writings of the 20thcentury, which manifest notably increased interest in the topic. By displaying musical examples, the study intends to illustrate various means by which composers have tried to deny or overcome limitations imposed by musical discursiveness.

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