Rhythm, Time, and Presence

Repetitive rhythm-oriented or groove-based music is specifically designed to usher the listener into a state of absorption or presence in the music. This chapter argues that this particular form of musical time originates with the repetition of a certain inner dynamics within the basic rhythmic pattern of the groove. The first part of the chapter presents structural and microrhythmic features that seem to be particularly impactful upon the listener’s state of groove absorption. The second part discusses the consequences of the fact that it is impossible to describe such an experience of musical time without stepping outside it. An initial observation is that in the very moment one starts to consider the state of being-in-the-groove, one’s state of being is changed.