[Dixielandjazz] Timing and tempo

[david richoux]

For the purposes of OKOM, the only time signatures commonly used that 
really make a difference are 3/4 (waltz time) and 6/8 (a sort of 
special march time, often used in the  2nd strain of a song as contrast 
) - most of our songs were originally either written in 2/4 or 4/4 but 
it seems to me that it is more a matter of how the band chooses to play 
them. There are a lot of 3/4 songs that also can be played in Common 
Time (4/4) or Cut Time (2/4.)

Tempo can be specified by the composer/arranger as "beats per minute" 
but really it is also very arbitrary - whatever feels "Right" for the 
skills of the band (and the capabilities of the dancers.)

If you get away from typical OKOM to places like Eastern Europe you 
will hear bands improvising in 7/4, 23/4 or all sorts of other crazy 
(to our ears) time signatures...  lots of fun!

Dave Richoux

On Feb 9, 2004, at 8:24 AM, Kurt wrote:

> This link might help clarify some basic music questions...
>
> http://www.geocities.com/Athens/1367/music.html
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: dixielandjazz-bounces at ml.islandnet.com
> [mailto:dixielandjazz-bounces at ml.islandnet.com]On Behalf Of Thompson
> Sent: Monday, February 09, 2004 10:24 AM
> To: Dan Augustine; DJML
> Subject: [Dixielandjazz] Timing and tempo
>
>
> Does the time signature reflect the tempo? or is that an arbitrary 
> thing?
>
> Rebecca
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From:  Of Dan Augustine
>      The differences among 2/2, 2/4, and 'cut time' are notational.
> In all of these time-signatures (or 'meters'), there are two beats in
> the bar.  In 2/2, the half-note is a beat; in 2/4, the quarter-note
> is a beat. In 'cut time' (usually represented by a large capital
> letter 'C' with a vertical bar through it), the half-note also gets
> the beat.
>
>
>
>
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