Empirical Research on Asymmetrical Rhythms in Scandinavian Folk Music: A Critical Review
Abstract This article presents a summary and critical review of existing research on asymmetrical rhythms within the genre of Scandinavian fiddle tunes known as springar/pols/springleik (Norway) and polska (Sweden). The reviewed body of work covers a range of more or less related issues, including d...
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| Format: | Članak |
| Jezik: | English |
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Scandinavian University Press (Universitetsforlaget)
2017-12-01
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| Serija: | Studia Musicologica Norvegica |
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| Online pristup: | http://www.idunn.no/doi/10.18261/issn.1504-2960-2017-01-05 |
| _version_ | 1828281335524884480 |
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| author | Mats Johansson |
| author_facet | Mats Johansson |
| author_sort | Mats Johansson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract This article presents a summary and critical review of existing research on asymmetrical rhythms within the genre of Scandinavian fiddle tunes known as springar/pols/springleik (Norway) and polska (Sweden). The reviewed body of work covers a range of more or less related issues, including descriptive and prescriptive accounts of different rhythmic styles (long-average-short and short-long-average beat cycles); presentation of measured beat duration patterns, including accounts of measurement procedure; hypotheses on patterns and mechanisms of variation in beat asymmetry; and notes on the relationship between dance meter and musical meter, between rhythmic levels (measure, beat and subdivision), and between measured and experienced rhythm. The present study extracts and compares the different currents of thought on and approaches to these topics, and assesses their methodological performance and explanatory potential. Finally, some recommendations for future research are presented. It is concluded that more studies are needed to fully account for the asymmetry phenomenon. These studies should include a larger and broader set of timing data through more efficient methodologies; ethnographic and experimental research on music/dance interactions, on synchronization behavior in ensemble settings, and on the perceptual and conceptual representations of rhythm and timing among performers. It also remains to construct a theoretical model that integrates the different – and to some extent contradictory – concepts, perspectives and findings from existing research. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T08:14:22Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1597b8e9e6b24f0d8b959b51a66622c3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0332-5024 1504-2960 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T08:14:22Z |
| publishDate | 2017-12-01 |
| publisher | Scandinavian University Press (Universitetsforlaget) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Studia Musicologica Norvegica |
| spelling | doaj.art-1597b8e9e6b24f0d8b959b51a66622c32022-12-22T02:54:51ZengScandinavian University Press (Universitetsforlaget)Studia Musicologica Norvegica0332-50241504-29602017-12-01431588910.18261/issn.1504-2960-2017-01-05Empirical Research on Asymmetrical Rhythms in Scandinavian Folk Music: A Critical ReviewMats JohanssonAbstract This article presents a summary and critical review of existing research on asymmetrical rhythms within the genre of Scandinavian fiddle tunes known as springar/pols/springleik (Norway) and polska (Sweden). The reviewed body of work covers a range of more or less related issues, including descriptive and prescriptive accounts of different rhythmic styles (long-average-short and short-long-average beat cycles); presentation of measured beat duration patterns, including accounts of measurement procedure; hypotheses on patterns and mechanisms of variation in beat asymmetry; and notes on the relationship between dance meter and musical meter, between rhythmic levels (measure, beat and subdivision), and between measured and experienced rhythm. The present study extracts and compares the different currents of thought on and approaches to these topics, and assesses their methodological performance and explanatory potential. Finally, some recommendations for future research are presented. It is concluded that more studies are needed to fully account for the asymmetry phenomenon. These studies should include a larger and broader set of timing data through more efficient methodologies; ethnographic and experimental research on music/dance interactions, on synchronization behavior in ensemble settings, and on the perceptual and conceptual representations of rhythm and timing among performers. It also remains to construct a theoretical model that integrates the different – and to some extent contradictory – concepts, perspectives and findings from existing research.http://www.idunn.no/doi/10.18261/issn.1504-2960-2017-01-05musical meterasymmetrical rhythmScandinavian folk musicfiddleHardanger fiddlespringar |
| spellingShingle | Mats Johansson Empirical Research on Asymmetrical Rhythms in Scandinavian Folk Music: A Critical Review Studia Musicologica Norvegica musical meter asymmetrical rhythm Scandinavian folk music fiddle Hardanger fiddle springar |
| title | Empirical Research on Asymmetrical Rhythms in Scandinavian Folk Music: A Critical Review |
| title_full | Empirical Research on Asymmetrical Rhythms in Scandinavian Folk Music: A Critical Review |
| title_fullStr | Empirical Research on Asymmetrical Rhythms in Scandinavian Folk Music: A Critical Review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Empirical Research on Asymmetrical Rhythms in Scandinavian Folk Music: A Critical Review |
| title_short | Empirical Research on Asymmetrical Rhythms in Scandinavian Folk Music: A Critical Review |
| title_sort | empirical research on asymmetrical rhythms in scandinavian folk music a critical review |
| topic | musical meter asymmetrical rhythm Scandinavian folk music fiddle Hardanger fiddle springar |
| url | http://www.idunn.no/doi/10.18261/issn.1504-2960-2017-01-05 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT matsjohansson empiricalresearchonasymmetricalrhythmsinscandinavianfolkmusicacriticalreview |