Sunday, December 4, 2016

When 7/8 is More Than Enough

Four plus Three


When common time, 4/4, becomes just too common

     and


waltz time, 3/4, is just boom-chuck-chuck, 


     then put them together into a lively, exotic 7/8 (4+3).


Sometimes music in odd or mixed rhythm also has odd or mixed notes, such as chromatically altered notes (accidentals).

This could become interesting practice when playing the chromatic button accordion, where
    
     -- half-steps go one way,
    
     -- whole-steps another, and
    
     -- minor-thirds a third way.


The Music

Playing the music for the Moldavian dance “Ostropat” offers the challenges of playing     
     -- steady eighth notes,     
     -- steady 7/8 rhythm,
    
     -- steady tempo, and
    
     -- correct notes.
The music is available at
The dance video is available at
The dance instructions are available at

By The Way

To get the feel of odd rhythms, listen to John Eidsvoog of California play his piano arrangement of “Sleigh Ride” in 7/8.








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