On 02/14/2013 09:32 AM, Paul Davis wrote:

western music rarely uses polyrhythm, and even i have read that (even) bach rarely departs from a fairly monotonous grid, even on those odd occasions when things are not in 4.

You mean "Western music written after the Ars Nova and before Le Sacre", yes ?

See/hear Machaut's music , particulary the chansons, for some very interesting rhythmic qualities.

i always thought of counterpoint as where harmony and melody collided and gave birth to beauty.

Picturesque, but not historically accurate, I'm sure you know. More like, where melody and melody collided. :)

Best,

dp