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Karsilama and Romany 9s are worth the effort! |
In Irish music, a 9/8 nusic signature means 3 triplets per measure, nice and even. But in Turkish or Romany music, 9/8 is an approximation. The measures are NOT evenly divided into 9 pieces. Think three pairs of 1-2 followed by a 1-2-3 with its own special swing; listening to music is the only way to understand this rhythm.
Why bother to learn? Because these nine-eights are very kinetic songs that catch and hold the attention of the audience and inspire the dancers.
The zill and drum diagrams will serve as suggested patterns to start out with; but remember, zills are a musical instrument, and you will end up improvising to what you hear, which means you will be making up dozens of your own patterns as you get more proficient!
Turkish Karsilama music, originally used in folk dances, is a favorite of Turkish Oriental dance soloists. It is often the first (and sometimes the only) 9/8 rhythm that oriental dancers are exposed to, either as a group or a solo dance. It is counted:
1-2 . 1-2 . 1-2 . 1-2-3 or 1 . . 2 . . 3 . . 1-2-3 Caution! The count is not an even count. There's a special swing to the last three beats. Listening to karsilama music while you learn it is important. The Turkish Karsilama has emphasis on 1, 3, 5, and 7. The 8 and 9 are clearly sounded out. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Artemis recommended the following zill patterns during a workshop in 2006. Remember - the rhythm is uneven with the last 3 beats having their own special swing which CANNOT be diagrammed exactly! 1 & 2 . 3 & 4 . 5 & 6 . 7 & 8 & 9 . R . R L R . R L R . R L R . L . L . R L R L R L R L R L R L R L R L R L R . R L R . R L . . R L R L R . L L 1 & 2 . 3 & 4 . 5 & 6 . 7 & 8 & 9 . R L R . L R L . R L R . L R L R . L LSuggested drum rhythms might go like:
1 & 2 . 3 & 4 . 5 & 6 . 7 & 8 & 9 . D . . . D . . . t . . . . . t . . . D . t k t . t k D . t k t . t . t k D . . . D . . . t . t k t . t . t k |
Mariah dances and zills to a Turkish Karsilama. The Scabland Band plays Karsilama rhythm. Greece and Turkey share a lot of musical heritage. The Kostas band demonstrates how crazy it can can get when everybody knows what the rhythm is and everybody does their own take on it. |
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Turkish Romany musicians and dancers, masters of making much out of little, make their 9/8 even more kinetic by leaving the 9th beat silent - a fleeting rest.
Frequently counted: 1-2 1-2 1-2 1-2 [rest] or 1 2 3 1-2 [rest] The emphasis is on 1,3,5,7 and 8, with the seven slightly more emphatic than the eight. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 [rest] Again, the swing of the rhythm requires dancers who are unfamiliar with it to listen carefully to representative music. It cannot be accurately diagrammed. Artemis recommended the following zill patterns during a workshop in 2006:
1 & 2 . 3 & 4 . 5 & 6 . 7 & 8 & 9 . R . R L R . R L R . R L R . . . . . R . R L R . R L R . R L R . L . . . R . L . R . . . R . . . RLR L . . . R L R L R . . . R . . . RLR L . . . |
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