How did rhythmic styles change from the Renaissance to the 20th century?

The evolution of rhythmic styles from the Renaissance to the 20th century reflects a shifting balance between strict order and expressive freedom.1

• Renaissance: This period was characterized by free, oratorical speech-rhythms and the smooth, nearly stressless flow of polyphony.12
• Baroque: Rhythm became more defined by strong body rhythms, often tied to the rise of instrumental music and the systematic use of figured bass.13
• Classical and Romantic: Regular metres became standard, with rhythm serving as a key differentiator between movements. The late Romantic era later embraced greater rhythmic freedom.41
• 20th Century: This era introduced "primitivistic" rhythms, characterized by composite and ever-changing time signatures. Composers like Igor Stravinsky and Béla Bartók gave rhythmic manipulation structural prominence. Additionally, the influence of jazz and folk music introduced syncopation and jagged rhythms, while later avant-garde movements explored serialism and aleatory (chance) techniques.145678