Book excerpt: "All practising musicians with an interest in the baroque owe it to themselves to be exposed to the ideas contained in this book." -- Continuo "This is a book from an excellent musician in the early field who turns out also to be a most persistent scholar... " -- Early Music ..". the book offers a vast quantity of data from a wide range of sources.... George Houle is to be congratulated for his honest presentation of the entire spectrum." -- Music Educators Journal The treatment of meter in performance has evolved dramatically since 1600. Here is a practical guide for the performer, with many quotations from early manuals and treatises, and abundant examples.