SYNCOPATION LESSON 10 DEFINITION Syncopation is the displacement
- Slides: 7
SYNCOPATION LESSON 10
DEFINITION • Syncopation is the displacement of a regular metrical accent through emphasis of weak beats or parts of the beat other than the downbeat. • Syncopations can be created by – Dots or ties, – Accents, – Rests, and occasionally, – Dynamic markings • Syncopations can occur in any genre of music, but are often common in pop, jazz, and ragtime music. Let’s explore the first three different methods with some examples:
DOTS AND TIES • When ties are added to rhythms from a weak part of a beat across a stronger part, syncopations are created. • Example: Scott Joplin’s Pine Apple Rag Click Me! Here Joplin uses ties and emphasis of the second and fourth 16 th notes in a beat to create a syncopated feel. In the first four measures of the piece above, I have circled the arrows that highlight these syncopations and their corresponding counts underneath
ACCENTS • An accent mark on a weak beat or weak part of a beat can create syncopation. • Example: Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring, “Dance of the Young Girls” Click on the photo to listen/view the piece. Stravinsky’s use of accents at irregular intervals creates a syncopated feel. The scrolling score shows only the accented notes, but there is a constant 8 th note pulse between the accents, not rests as are
RESTS • When rests are placed on the strong part of a beat, it can cause a weaker part to sound accented, leading to syncopation. • Example: Glenn Miller’s In the Mood Notice the rests on the downbeats at the beginning of this piece. Click Me!
SYNCOPATION IN POPULAR MUSIC • Syncopation can often be found in popular music. Check out this tune that everyone knows ; ) The well known “hook” in the beginning (played by the piano) is syncopated by placing emphasis on weaker parts of the beat. Click Me!
SOURCES CLENDINNING, J. P. , & MARVIN, E. W. (2011). THE MUSICIAN'S GUIDE TO THEORY AND ANALYSIS (2 ND ED. ). NEW YORK: W. W. NORTON AND COMPANY. GARLAND, J. (1939). IN THE MOOD. RETRIEVED FROM SHEET MUSIC DIRECT: HTTPS: //WWW. SHEETMUSICDIRECT. COM/EN US/SE/ID_NO/93403/PRODUCT. ASPX JOPLIN, S. (2019). PINE APPLE RAG [RECORDED L. VINHETEIRO]. BY MILLER, G. (1939). IN THE MOOD [RECORDED BY M. ORCHESTRA]. G. STRAVINSKY, I. (2018). THE RITE OF SPRING [RECORDED BY L. P. ORCHESTRA]. LONDON. TOTO (1981). AFRICA [RECORDED BY TOTO].
