Syncopation - When does too much of a good thing diminish it's impact

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joevidetto

Posts: 191
Joined: Jun. 15 2013

Syncopation - When does too much of ...

I had sporadically listened to Paco's "post-Almoraima" albums, believing Sirocco to be a pinnacle of tastefully evolving the Paco modern flamenco movement. I assumed (yes, I know the joke) that subsequent albums were of similar caliber and appeal to me.

I have always REALLY loved Paco's syncopations - I think right up to Sirocco, certainly on Solo Quiero and Zyrab... Last night, I finally tried to listen to Cositas Buenas straight through, and found myself exhausted trying to hear the compas in his playing. There was just too much syncopation for my taste, and the impression that album had on me must be the same that flamenco sometimes has to Western newcomers. Perhaps my appreciation and ear just hasn't evolved enough to appreciate that album. No doubt, the playing is spectacular, I love the singing, the accompaniment. But the level of syncopation is just too much for me. That will actually save me some money, I won't have to buy that Leiva book : )

Does anyone else feel the same about that album ? I'm sure as time passes I will come to appreciate it more.

Do you have any examples of pieces with

"Syncopation - here's a piece with just enough and not too much"
(with the exception of Cositas and parts of Luzia - all Paco's works have just enough and not too much IMHO)

"Syncopation - just too much for my taste and threshold for it"

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 5 2021 14:24:01

Piwin

Posts: 3561
Joined: Feb. 9 2016

RE: Syncopation - When does too much... (in reply to joevidetto)

Examples of modern syncopated play:

Then there's that whole del Morao style of playing, which has caught on now with a lot of players:

And Yerai Cortes has been mentioned several times lately. Personally I really like this.

Also, Rayito's version of Impetu is fun to listen to:

http://www.foroflamenco.com/tm.asp?m=81838&appid=&p=&mpage=1&key=&tmode=&smode=&s=#81898

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 5 2021 15:23:01

Ricardo

Posts: 14818
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC

RE: Syncopation - When does too much... (in reply to joevidetto)

The idea is to build tension and anticipation of the remate. It can be good if done right but yes, if they keep delaying or faking out the resolution, then they never release the tension build up and lose the engagement. That coupled with soft dynamics are not working for me either.

Volar tends to go into some interesting explorations and I love how he hits the rasgueados hard towards the end. But it requires a pretty solid concentration to follow him to that point. The first buleria and the one with Camaron are obviously more “grabbing”. That synchopated riff sounds wicked and sour until he releases it. I never liked the harmonica and keyboard trying to play that with him, it doesn’t work because those instruments don’t know how to “rematar”.

Cositas Buenas is the single tune that I think has a cool idea but because of its uncharacteristic “happy” nature, he should have muscled some parts of it more for my taste. I love the interplay of the rumba duet however, and the dancing triplets of the buleria por solea.

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CD's and transcriptions available here:
www.ricardomarlow.com

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 5 2021 16:40:29

devilhand

Posts: 1602
Joined: Oct. 15 2019

RE: Syncopation - When does too much... (in reply to joevidetto)

I'm a big fan of syncopated and ragtime rhythm. Syncopation is a rhythmic tension and must be resolved. It must be also used sparsely and at a right time.

quote:

The idea is to build tension and anticipation of the remate. It can be good if done right but yes, if they keep delaying or faking out the resolution, then they never release the tension build up and lose the engagement.

Mr. Marlow is one of the few guys I've seen so far using the word tension when talking about syncopation.

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Say No to Fuera de Compás!!!

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 6 2021 13:00:56