For the first time since Hugo Riemann, a book is presented that is based on a completely new rhythm theory: the 'theory of components'. Petersen's theses and analyses make it possible to describe and understand the rhythmic structure of music better than before. Whereas rhythm has been described simply as an interplay of longs and shorts with accents and metres up to now, Petersen shows that there are secondary rhythms apart from the basic rhythms which are not notated because they depend on tonal properties and tonal figures. These 'rhythms of components' are effective as a rhythmic fabric and at the same time gravity forming, they can even change metre and time.

Einleitung - Erster Teil: Die Komponententheorie: Rhythmen und Komponenten - Rhythmisches Gewicht - Rhythmusaspekte - Zweiter Teil: Rhythmus in der Musik J.S. Bachs: Einleitung - Die 48 Fugenthemen des Wohltemperierten Klaviers - Zwei 6/4- und zwei 9/8- Stücke aus WK I - Chromatische Fantasie - Aus den Brandenburgischen Konzerten - Die Eilt!-Wohin?-Arie mit Chor - Der Choral Es ist genug - Dritter Teil: Rhythmustheorien: Vorbemerkung - Praetorius - Kircher - Printz - Mattheson - Hartung - Riepel - Scheibe - Kirnberger - Türk - Koch - Momigny - Weber - Westphal - Lussy - Riemann - Wiehmayer - Messiaen - Blacher - Keller - LaRue - Hlawiczka - Neumann - Cooper & Meyer - Stockhausen - Benary - Dahlhaus - Erpf - Pierce - Berry - Yeston - Lester - Kramer - Rothstein - Hasty - Lerdahl - London - Anhang: Notenbeispiele (fortlaufend) - Notenbeispiele (nach Komponisten) - Personenregister