NormanKliman -> RE: Aire...What does it mean? (Jan. 21 2010 0:11:32)
|
Not an easy one to translate, although the word "air" is also used in English to mean general character or appearance, and can even be applied to music, although in that case it just means a melody. In flamenco, it refers to the feeling caused by the little details that imply rhythm. In my opinion, this usually has to do with the difference between "straight" eighth-notes (like a marching band) and "triplet" eighth-notes (swing). That'd be a question of breaking things down to a common denominator of twos or threes. But it could also refer to the mood created by melody and harmony, so the word is used in different ways. Just imagine two players doing the same bulerías, for example, but with very different results. One might sound loose and breezy, with lots of space for extra notes that aren't being played. The other might sound tight and heavy, with every note crammed into the compás and no extra space. About aire being important, that'd be another way to use the word. What I said about sounding "loose" or "tight" is all a matter of personal preference, so it's not like one is better than the other. But if somebody plays without any nuances, repeating the same patterns over and over, it could be said that he doesn't have aire. In that sense, imagine a hot stuffy room and opening a window to let in some fresh "aire." Gotta keep it playful.
|
|
|
|