Why do people stick to the rhythm?

Subject: Why do people stick to the rhythm?
From: Bert
Date: 15 Aug 12 - 10:05 PM

A good singer or poet will vary the tempo for effect, slowing down to anticipate a punch line or speeding up to create excitement.

A boring singer will stick to a strict tempo throughout regardless of the feeling and passion in the song.

Subject: RE: Why do people stick to the rhythm?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 15 Aug 12 - 10:10 PM

That ain't necessarily so. Probably the most exciting English rock'n'roll song ever is Johnny Kidd's "Shaking All Over", and it's bang on the beat throughout.

Subject: RE: Why do people stick to the rhythm?
From: Bert
Date: 15 Aug 12 - 10:12 PM

It works for some songs, and of course Rock is primarily dance music so strict rhythm is required.

Subject: RE: Why do people stick to the rhythm?
From: mg
Date: 15 Aug 12 - 10:56 PM

Some of them seem quite random in their effect...did people in the olden days do this? It seems affected to me like look at this tren ==learned. Especially when they alter the natural rhythm the words produce. Obviously, do what y ou like but I won't be around to listen..it is just too irksome to me...

Subject: RE: Why do people stick to the rhythm?
From: GUEST,Peter
Date: 16 Aug 12 - 04:04 AM

Like all things its fine in moderation.

Subject: RE: Why do people stick to the rhythm?
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 16 Aug 12 - 04:06 AM

Why do people start ' copycat ' threads ? have they no original thoughts ?

Dave H

Subject: RE: Why do people stick to the rhythm?
From: The Sandman
Date: 16 Aug 12 - 04:12 AM

bert you are making a massive generalisation, which means in my opinion you are talking crap , bert the crap shooter

Subject: RE: Why do people stick to the rhythm?
From: Henry Krinkle
Date: 16 Aug 12 - 04:35 AM

B-I Bi, B-I Bo, B-I Bickey Bi, Bo Bo Bo!
(:-( P)=

Subject: RE: Why do people stick to the rhythm?
From: Ole Juul
Date: 16 Aug 12 - 05:01 AM

The original question is about rhythm, but the body speaks about tempo. Something is amiss.

Regarding rhythm, it is often an integral part of the piece as we understand it. A tune like "Happy Birthday", normally sung as a march, would be quite confusing if done as a reggae or bossa. "British Grenadiers" is another one that looses meaning if the rhythm is altered, though I would be delighted to hear it as a tango.

Tempo is another story. Generally I find it quite tedious if it wanders for any reason whatsoever. It's just uncomfortable and unpleasant because it conflicts with my internal count. The effect is the same as when people sing songs and leave out the rests. That said, something like Henry Grimes' "Fish Story", which accelerates drastically as part of the form, is most delightful.

Subject: RE: Why do people stick to the rhythm?
From: Hamish
Date: 16 Aug 12 - 07:02 AM

We had The Wild Rover done as a calypso the other night :-)

Subject: RE: Why do people stick to the rhythm?
From: Leadfingers
Date: 16 Aug 12 - 07:54 AM

And the performer survived , Hamish ??????

Subject: RE: Why do people stick to the rhythm?
From: Leadfingers
Date: 16 Aug 12 - 07:58 AM

But IF there is more than one performer , it takes a lot of rehearsal to get the variations in tempo and / or rhythm to sound natural and spontaneous

Subject: RE: Why do people stick to the rhythm?
From: Bert
Date: 16 Aug 12 - 11:12 AM

Good Soldier Schweik,

Yes of course it is a generalization; otherwise I would be talking about a particular song. As for talking crap, that is not unusual for me, but for a lot of folk singers I think I make a valid point.


Ole Juul, Yes Tempo, of course varying the tempo does mess with the rhythm.

Frinstance, "Happy Birthday" us usually sung starting quite fast but is slowed down for emphasis on the third "Birthday" and the person's name. Not good for marching.

Subject: RE: Why do people stick to the rhythm?
From: GUEST,Stim
Date: 16 Aug 12 - 02:05 PM

Hey, Old Juul,Guess what? "Happy Birthday" is in 3/4. Who knew? I thought it was a merengue myself.

Subject: RE: Why do people stick to the rhythm?
From: Ole Juul
Date: 16 Aug 12 - 06:55 PM

Bert: "Happy Birthday" us usually sung starting quite fast but is slowed down for emphasis on the third "Birthday" and the person's name. Not good for marching.

You're quite right, "not good for marching". Actually I made a bad example. What would one call "Happy Birthday"? It's not very danceable.

Subject: RE: Why do people stick to the rhythm?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 16 Aug 12 - 08:26 PM

all things are fine in moderation....serial killers, suicide bombers, Russell Brand......

Subject: RE: Why do people stick to the rhythm?
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 16 Aug 12 - 09:57 PM

From experience I can assert that when playing for ballroom dancers (as opposed to the "stompers" in some trad/folk dances, and C/W "line dances") one had best allow the dancers to control the rhythm and ignore what's on the sheet music.

I have previously related one specific instance where an irate dancer applied "discipline" to our trumpet player, said discipline involving and ice cream cone and a sensitive orifice, because he ignored the dancers and didn't follow them properly.

[She was a very sweet "old lady," probably about 50 (I was 17 so over 30 was old then) and she and her partner were impressive and inspiring dancers, once the trumpet got shut off for a couple of numbers while he extracted the ice cream.]

John

Subject: RE: Why do people stick to the rhythm?
From: GUEST,Don Wise
Date: 17 Aug 12 - 04:17 AM

If people stick slavishly to the rhythm it's perhaps because that's the way they been taught or trained to play. The musical notation system we use is, in many ways, a straitjacket and I would suspect that most music teachers are unable to even remotely envisage taking liberties with the rhythm and/or the time signature. The very idea is probably unthinkable!

@JohnInKansas: The best ceilidh/barn dance/ folk dance bands in my opinion are those where the tunes have been learnt and where the musicians keep an eye on what's happening on the dance floor.

Subject: RE: Why do people stick to the rhythm?
From: GUEST,Guest, RS
Date: 17 Aug 12 - 04:21 AM

What, we got rhythm police now? Jeez..

Subject: RE: Why do people stick to the rhythm?
From: Musket
Date: 17 Aug 12 - 04:45 AM

If Chopin stuck to the rhythm, the world wouldn't still be enthralled by hearing his preludes...

Subject: RE: Why do people stick to the rhythm?
From: Ole Juul
Date: 17 Aug 12 - 05:48 AM

What, we got rhythm police now? Jeez..

No. Jazz.

Subject: RE: Why do people stick to the rhythm?
From: GUEST, Tony Rath
Date: 17 Aug 12 - 07:03 AM

Russell Brand in moderation - surely sulphuric acid is more appropriate

In most music while a basic beat and tempo are established there is room for variation depending on the skill and taste of the performer