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Tactus, Mensuration, and the Foundation of Rhythm in Renaissance Music

"Tactus and mensuration form the core of Renaissance rhythmic theory, providing a flexible yet structured system for time. Unlike modern metered bars, these elements rely on a steady physical pulse (tactus) and proportional relationships (mensuration) to define how long notes last relative to one another in polyphonic compositions from 1400 to 1600. Understanding the rhythmic language of the Renaissance requires a fundamental shift in perspective. To a modern musician, rhythm is often a matter of "counting" within a box—the measure. To a musician in 2026 exploring the 15th or 16th centuries, rhythm is understood as a flow governed by a constan..."

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