Research Point: Maelzel's Metronome

Maelzel’s Metronome

It is clear that music relies heavily on timing; the speed at which notes are played and the space between those notes are important in achieving the intended feel of a piece.  Playing with other instruments requires an even greater awareness of timing, as it is imperative that all players are using the same timing.  Time signatures and note values go a long way to aiding correct timing, but it is essential for the player to know the tempo of the piece in order to play it successfully.    

Today, the most common way to measure and notate the timing of a piece is to use a metronome. 

The History of the Metronome

Born in Regensbury, Germany in 1772, Johann Nepomuk Maelzel was credited with the invention of the metronome in 1816.  However, the invention of this device has been disputed and it is believed that Maelzel took the idea from Dietrich Nikolaus Winkel’s Chronometer in 1814; making Winkel’s suggested adjustments and marketing it as ‘Maelzel’s Metronome’. 

The metronome is a mechanical device with a swinging pendulum, which produces ‘clicks’ when swung.  The swing speed of the pendulum is set via a metre and the ‘clicks’ are used to measure the intended number of beats in each bar. 

Since its invention in the 19^th Century, the metronome has taken on many different forms and variations.  It is believed that Beethoven was one of the earliest composers to include metronome marks on his work, indicating a desire for his pieces to be played in a certain way.   Today it is common to find a number of electronic metronomes and apps for handhelds devices.  A number of design features have also been introduced including the use of a ‘bell ring’ or variant noise that distinguishes the beats from the end of each bar. 

Tempo is almost always measured by using beats per minute (BPM).  A metronome can be set, usually between a range of 40 – 208BPM, to the notated tempo of the piece and used to aid rhythm of the player.  On a score, tempo is often indicated as MM (Maelzel’s Metronome) and written as such:

MM = 160 BPM.

The Metronome as an Instrument

Although an unusual choice of instrument, the metronome has been used as a feature in a number of pieces.  Most famously, Gyorgy Ligeti’s Poeme Symphonique composed in 1962 used 10 players, each responsible for 10 metronomes, to create a very unusual composition of ‘clicks’.  Artists such as Paul McCartney have also used the metronome more recently as a backbeat for songs, replacing the more usual percussion ensemble.

Timing Before the Metronome

Before the 19^th Century composers and artists seemed to rarely pay much attention to timing.  It was felt that it was the musician’s prerogative to decide upon the ‘feel’ of the piece.  I wasn’t until later, in the 19^th Century, that composers became concerned with their pieces being played in an exact way, to a specific time.