BEATING Time, in Music, a method of measuring and marking the time for performers in concert, by a motion of the hand or foot up and down successively and in equal times. The Romans had an officer called portisculus in each galley, whose business it was to beat time to the rowers by a pole or mallet, or by his voice alone. The ancients marked the rhythm in their musical compositions; but to make it more observable in practice, they beat the measure or time, and this in different manners. The most usual method consisted in a motion of the foot, which was raised from and struck alternately against the ground. This was commonly the province of the master of the music, called μεσόχορος and χορηγός, because placed in the middle of the choir of musicians, and in an elevated situation, in order to be more easily seen and heard by the whole company. These beaters of measure were also called by the Greeks ποδοπόφας, because of the noise of their feet; the Latins denominated them pedarii, podarii, and pedicularii. To make the beats or strokes more audible, their feet were generally shod with a sort of sandals made of wood or iron, called by the Greeks κροπέλα, κροπέλα, κροπέτα, and by the Latins pedicula, scabilla, or scabilla, because resembling little stools or foot-stools. The ancients also beat time or measure with shells, as oyster shells, and bones of animals, which they struck against one another, in the manner of the modern castanets and similar instruments. Other noisy instruments, as drums, cymbals, and citterns, were also used for the same purpose.