[Tango-L] 5/8s

[Tom Stermitz]

On Jul 18, 2007, at 2:08 PM, Jeff Gaynor wrote:

> NOTE: Tango rhythms are syncopated but within a regular framework. You
> will find driving 2/4 pieces with 3+3+2 (candombe) rhythms all over  
> the
> place, but this is very different from a piece written using 5/8 as  
> the
> main time signature which is too irregular to dance to. People who are
> not too familiar with music gets this wrong all the time. Snarky
> comment: Doesn't matter because they also tend to ignore it and  
> dance it
> regularly anyway...
> ...
> Cheers,
>
> Jeff G

Yes, tangos play with various rhythmic counterpoints, including 3-3-2  
and others.

It would be incorrect to say it is impossible to dance in 5. 5/8 is  
pretty fast, but 5/4 is certainly a dance rhythm. Eastern European  
dances often have very complex and fast rhythms.

The half-and-half is a well-known (or not) ballroom dance in 5/4 from  
the teens and twenties. It is fun to play a half-and-half for tango  
dancers and watch them figure it out after struggling for a little  
while.