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Polymetric chorus

Form
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

A chorus section in which multiple metres are used simultaneously or in alternation to create polyphonic metre.

Detailed Definition
A Polymetric chorus is a choral or refrain section within a poem that alternates or combines multiple metrical patterns—such as iambic, trochaic, and anapestic lines—within a single stanzaic unit, creating rhythmic complexity and dynamic variation; this technique, rooted in ancient Greek drama and revived in modern experimental verse, allows poets to mirror emotional shifts or thematic contrasts through shifting prosodic textures.
Example
Example in poetry:
Polymetric chorus: Greek tragedies mixed dactylic, iambic, and trochaic meters in choral odes; T.S. Eliot’s “The Waste Land” shifts meters abruptly; Modern musical theater uses polymetric refrains; Polymetry reflects emotional volatility
Additional Notes
Different meters within choral section. Complex prosody. Related to polymetric verse. Study tip: Scan each section separately; note how meter shifts reflect mood or voice changes.
Also Known As
Mixed-meter chorus Variable-rhythm refrain Multi-measure chant Diverse-foot repetition
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