Rhythmic Devices
Ostinato
An ostinato is a repeated rhythmic pattern that occurs throughout a composition.
Graindage uses a displaced triplet ostinato at section C. This figure is used to create an accompaniment, as well as to imitate the sound of an easterly breeze.
The Potter Puppet Pals: The Mysterious Ticking Noise song is made up of different rhythmic ostinatos based on each character's name.
Hemiola/Cross Rhythms
A hemiola is when you have a rhythm that is in 3, juxtaposed against a rhythm that is in 2 at the same time. Graindage uses this at bar b.78.
Green = in 2, purple = in 3
A famous example where the song switches between 3/4 and 6/8 time signatures is America from West Side Story by Leonard Bernstein.
You can also think of it as 3:2 polyrhythm. There are other ratios of polyrhythms that exist, such as 4:3 (4 notes in the time it takes to play 3), 5:3 and 5:4. Try playing them!
Once you have gotten the hang of playing it yourself, try juggling egg shakers with a friend in polyrhythmic time!