[Tango-L] syncopation

[Sebastian Arce]

Dear Chris,

There are two big different things, double time... and syncopation I agree. 
The therm "Double time" is just duplicating the musical beats within a 
rhytmical meassure and that in written music makes only part of the 
'alterations du movement' such as Animato, Accelerando, Doppio (your double 
time) Pio moto, Piu mosso etc etc .

On the other hand, sincopa is the rhytmical accentuation of the intervalo 
beetween the meak and strong beat and that lasts untill the next strong 
beat.

Example of a syncopa: Beethoven. Sonate op. 31 no 1. Called 'La boiteuse' 
representing the syncopated rhythmical accentuation.

If you are a accomplished musician, think that I doubt myself... for your 
reasonings and your way to communicate and share your thoughts, you will 
clearly know that if you ask a band to play a 'double time' they will start 
to accelerate the stablished tempo... since the remark of 'doppio tempo' 
stablishes that there is an alteration of the TEMPO.

To avoid any other missunderstanding, please do not CONFUSE contratempo, and 
syncopation. The syncopa extends untill the strong beat, the contratempo 
DOESN't. And please... remember that 'doubletempo' is only a remark 
regarding the interpretation of the 'movimento'.

As you already have noticed Chris, open books, open your mind and ears... 
this might be helpful.

With all my respect,
S.Arce


----Original Message Follows----
From: "Chris, UK" <tl2 at chrisjj.com>
Reply-To: tl2 at chrisjj.com
To: Tango-L at mit.edu
CC: tl2 at chrisjj.com
Subject: Re: [Tango-L] syncopation
Date: Mon, 24 Jul 2006 00:24 +0100 (BST)

Trini wrote:

 > Chris, I think you overlooked that Sebastian specified that
 > the 2 is a weak beat, not a strong beat.

I think not. Particularly since Sebastian helpfully made clear that his
example was in simple duple time, in which 2 is /always/ a weak beat.

 > If 2 is a strong beat, then, it would be a double-time.
 > Since 2 is a weak beat, then it is a syncopa.

As I said: Ask three more dance instructors... get probably three more
meanings.

For anyone falling prey to this idea there might be a meaningful difference
depending on the strength of the second beat, try clapping this:

  Sebastian's original   :  1 , 2 , 1 , 2 , 1 , 2

then

  Sebastian's syncopated :  1and2and1and2and1and2

first with 1 and 2 of equal strength, then again with 2 weaker.

See? Don't take anyone's word for it but your own.

Chris
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