Syncopation

Syncopation is a rhythmic effect in which the composer deliberately alters or disturbs the expected pattern of accents, often giving a feeling of being off beat. Here are several ways of creating syncopation : 1. By placing an accented note or chord on a weak beat. (in time, on beat 2) Listen to the first 30 secs of Scherzo from Symphony no 4 by Schumann http://youtu.be/7XOZu0d51tk 2. By placing an accented note or chord betweenbeats (off the beat, or on a subdivision of the beat) Listen to Dance of the cygnets from Swan Lake by Tchaikovsky http://youtu.be/dIC0nm4nrI8 3. By placing a rest on a strong beat especially the first beat of the bar Listen to Waltz from Mazquerade Suite by Khatchaturian http://youtu.be/VP3TB98iUIc 4. By tying (holding on) over a strong beat. Listen to Maple Leaf Rag by Scott Joplin. (this is a typical rag, a syncopated melody over a steady beat in the left hand) http://youtu.be/pMAtL7n_-rc Listen carefully to each of these examples and try and hear when the syncopation occurs. You may find that this is only possible if you tap the beat quietly (on your knee for example). Once you are able to recognise the examples of syncopation continue with the following task.

Investigate the jazz piece Struttin with some barbecue, recorded in 1927 by Louis Armstrong's Hot Five. This jazz ensemble is made up of three melody instruments, and a rhythm section (banjo and piano). http://youtu.be/yl-2R_Pb7dk The piece is based on a repeating chord pattern, which is 32 bars long, and in two sections A and B. Each playing of this chord pattern is called a chorus. A chorus may fetaure improvisation from a solo player, solo players or the whole ensemble. Sometimes there is a short break a single player improvises without any accompaniment. Here is an outline plan : Introduction : 12 bars, with Louis Armstrong leading Chorus 1 : ensemble, in collective improvisation. This chorus ends with a two-bar break. Chorus 2 : Bars 1-16 (A) : solo, ending with a two-bar break Bars 17-32 (B) : solo, ending with a two-bar break (the banjo strums each beat, piano plays a chord on each off-beat) Chorus 3 : Solo with banjo and piano playing off-beats only: they drop out for the syncopated bars 31-32 which are repeated. Chorus 4 : Bars 1-16 : collective improvisation : ending with a two-bar break Bars 17-24 : collective improvisation Bars 25-32 : without rhythm section Coda : Short 1. Listen to the piece of music, follow the plan above and listen for the syncopation. 2. Listen again. In choruses 2 and 3, clap softly the beats 1 and 3 only. 3. Listen once or twice more and answer these questions : a. b. c. Which instrument plays the break at the end of chorus 1? Identify the three instruments which, in turn, play the solo improvisations in chorus 2 (A, then B) and chorus 3 Describe the music of the short coda