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Jonathan Dimond, Melbourne Polytechnic, AustraliaAbstract
The Carnatic music of South India and the folk music of the Balinese gamelan are very different genres with unique performance practices, ensembles, tuning systems and traditions. Both genres, however, appear to place precedence on temporal organisation of the music. This paper uses simple geometric tools to analyse a representative composition from each genre in order to acquire an understanding of the mathematics behind their construction. It is revealed that symmetry operates on multiple levels of scale and in complex ways. Through comparative analysis, differences as well as latent similarities in approach to symmetry in rhythm and metre are revealed. Through mathematical abstraction, musical relationships may be made between these and the cyclic rhythmic language of other intercultural genres (such as the music of sub-Saharan Africa). For performers and composers interested in intercultural collaboration, the semiotic translation of rhythmic features facilitates an improved understanding of the music. The results of this quantitative research may enable the contemporary musician to create new music with a hybridised intercultural style.
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Conference: KAMC2025Stream: Performing Arts Practices: Theater
This paper is part of the KAMC2025 Conference Proceedings (View)
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To cite this article:
Dimond J. (2026) Symmetry in Intercultural Rhythm: A Geometric Perspective on Rhythm in Indian and Balinese Music ISSN: 2436-0503 – The Kyoto Conference on Arts, Media & Culture 2025: Official Conference Proceedings (pp. 275-299) https://doi.org/10.22492/issn.2436-0503.2025.24
To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.22492/issn.2436-0503.2025.24
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