[Dixielandjazz] Timing question

[Bigbuttbnd at aol.com]

<<As far as I can determine, there's rarely a *practical* reason to use 2/2, 
2/4, or the
cut-time symbol. >>

One practical reason for using 2/4 is when a 2/4 bar comes in the middle of a 
4/4 song... denoting that a particular measure will go by twice as fast. 
Another reason for using a "cut-time" symbol is to give the conductor a break. In 
cut time the conductor only has to wave his arms for 2 beats in a measure 
because the orchestra is thinking in "2" instead of 4. If the conductor stayed in 
"4" at the rapid pace of must cut time songs he would wave his/her arms enough 
to lift off from the bandstand...

<<Re "After you've gone", the standard practice when playing it fast is to
double the value of the notes.>>
Actually, we always refer to this as "double-time". Each measure goes by at 
the same tempo but the rhythm section plays twice as many beats (notes) in 
those measures... thereby changing the "feel" of the groove. The main pulse of 
each measure, however, remains the same (you can tap your foot eactly the same 
through the slow section and the fast section and each measure continues to 
change at the same rate.)

~Hope this makes sense...
Rocky Ball
Atlanta