Anacrusis

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In poetry, anacrusis is the lead-in syllables that precede the first full measure, while, similarly, in music, it is the note or notes (even a phrase) which precede the first downbeat in a group. The latter sense is synonymous with upbeat and is often called the pickup or the pickup note. An anacrusis is similar to the wind-up a pitcher takes before the ball is thrown; it sets a melody into motion. If there are no anacrusi notes in music, the breath the musicians take before playing may be considered the anacrusis.

In the Star Spangled Banner, the word Oh in the first line is in anacrusis in both the music and the anapestic meter of the poem:

x    /    x   x   /    x   x   /     x  x  /   
Oh, say, can you see, by the dawn's early light. . .

Image:Anacrusis-bwv736.png
Beginning of BWV736, with anacrusis in Red.ca:Anacrusi de:Auftakt es:Anacrusa nl:Opmaat ja:弱起