[Tango-L] Syncopation

[Tom Stermitz]

Using syncopation to mean stepping double time is common enough by  
dancers, but incorrect musically. We've talked about this before in  
the archives.

However, Milonga and Tango do have quite a bit of syncopation, and a  
good dancer makes extensive use of syncopation.

Syncopation is about rhythmic emphasis being placed in unexpected or  
irregular locations in time. One could syncopate by the adding,  
dropping or shifting energy.

The rhythmic punctuation of Biagi is a great example (see El 13). Note  
how he drops the expected beat... "elevator shaft music" (it suddenly  
drops out from under you). Troilo utilizes a lot of syncopation (see  
Cachirulo). Troilo also uses a lot of 3-3-2 or long-long-short rhythms  
which contrast with the regular 4/4 and have a syncopated feel.

Leonel El Feo by Melingo makes a very evocative use of syncopated- 
habanero, kind of a hold-back-and-go.

Note, that we express rhythm and syncopation in a lot of different  
ways, not just stepping on the beat.

For example, in Tango, we have the "and-moment", when we suspend  
before surging. The engagement with our partner (both leader &  
follower) comes ahead of the first beat of the music. Musically, the  
bandoneon starts wheezing before the musician stomps his leg to  
punctuate the "1".  If tango didn't have this suspension and surge, it  
feels flat.

In Milonga, we make considerable use of hip and tummy movements to  
cause rhythmic interest.


On Jan 13, 2008, at 10:44 AM, Keith wrote:

> You're right, Janis.
>
> I repeated what my teachers had told me until I received a lecture  
> from a
> professional pianist after a Tango class in which I was teaching  
> double-time
> steps, but not syncopation. I've never made the same mistake again.
>
> Keith, HK
>
>
> On Sun Jan 13 14:05 , "Janis Kenyon"  sent:
>
>>
>> There are two rhythms in milonga:
>>
>> 1) double rhythm -- two steps in two beats of music; and
>> 2) triple rhythm (called traspie) -- three steps in two beats of  
>> music (like
>> a triple step in swing).
>>
>> There is no syncopated rhythm in milonga.  The wrong terminology is  
>> used
>> because teachers aren't musicians.
>
>
>
>
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