Re: [Harp-L] tempo

[Philharpn@xxxxxxx]

I think you neglected to mention "sincerity." Which is essential for show  
business and public performance. Because once you can fake that, you've got it  
made. And I'm not being disingenuous here.
 
Tempo does not intrinsically indicate the "emotion" of the music. Take  the 
Glenn Miller, Nat King Cole, Beyonce tune: "At Last." That certainly is a  
depressing song -- but only if the lyrics are ignored: "At last, my love  has come 
along...."
 
"Keep A Knocking" by Little Richard: "Keep a knocking but you can't  come in, 
... come back tomorrow night and try again..." That's a kiss-off love  song: 
and it romps right along.  "I Heard it from the Grapevine" is an up  tempo 
soul song -- bad news, his girl plans to dump him, but the tune rocks  right 
along.
 
As far as the Italian terms for tempo, their meaning is better explained by  
a metronome marking. Outside of the classical world, most tempo markings today 
 are in English. I think I once even saw a "tempo de ragtime" on a tune. 
Today's  music might be marked "brisk" --not "happy brisk."
 
Today those tempo term are:
largo ... very slow and broad
lento ... slow
andante ... moderate graceful tempo
presto ... very fast
 
 
What does this prove? Nothing. Tempus fugit
hope this helps
 
Phil
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
In a message dated 2/9/2009 9:57:25 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,  
mmolino54@xxxxxxxxxxx writes:


I'm  glad Jim brought up the notion of emotion as it relates to tempo. This 
speed  topic bubbles up to the surface every so often and we fall into the 
"tastes  great" vs. "less filling" kind of discussion. I agree with most of the 
posters  that simply playing fast or cramming in a lot of notes because you can 
doesn't  do any service to the music, but the conversation takes on some 
pretty  interesting turns if we look at the what tempo does to the music.

Are  the connotations below accurate? Would you add others?

FAST PLAYING  MIGHT EQUAL:
- Joy
- Happiness
- Energy
- Youth
-  Fun

SLOW PLAYING MIGHT EQUAL:
- Sorrow/Melancholy
-  Contemplation/Reflection
- Weariness
- Death

We all experience  these things and no one player need stick to one tempo, 
nor even the same  tempo throughout one piece, but it is fascinating to see who 
is drawn to what  type of playing as a listener and as a player. Does the 
subject matter match  the playing in tempo? Does your personality or the 
personality of the player  match the tempo you normally hear from them? 

Can you think of counter  examples? A slow harp song that exudes happiness or 
joy? A fast harp song that  speaks to the blues or sorrow?

-Marc
> Date: Mon, 9 Feb 2009  08:48:41 -0500
> From: jim.alciere@xxxxxxxxx
> To:  harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
> CC: 
> Subject: [Harp-L] tempo
>  
> Why play fast? Let me quote arranger Joe Paparone: "Try being  extremely
> happy at a slow pace. It doesn't work. Tempo is integrally  related to mood.
> "
> 
> a standard Italian description of  tempo: 140-150) *Allegro assai:* very
> happy (150-160)* Allegro  vivace:* happy with spirit (160-184)
> *Vivace:*spirited, bright
>  Joe's website has some good music theory information:
>  http://www.musicarrangers.com/star-theory/t16.htm
> 
> One might  say John Popper and the boys play party music. I do too.
> -- 
>  Jimmy
>  http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1372404/dhoozh_chapter_1.html
>  http://www.myspace.com/theelectricstarlightspaceanimals
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