I distinctly remember the first time I was introduced to the musical polyrhythmic idea of playing triplets against eighth notes. I was a young student, probably ten, at summer orchestra camp where they had a short theory lesson each morning. The teacher explained the concept, modeled it, and had us try it. I was...unsuccessful, to say the least. It was frustrating. I could play one or the other, or clap one or the other, but I could not for the life of me put them together. I gave up quite quickly and the professor could not convince me that this was a skill I would need.
To help you understand this technique, try this youtube video: Polyrhythm Grafic
Or, if that one gives you metronome nightmares (admit it, we all have those. It's like the musicians' version of going through your whole day naked), try this piano version: 2 against 3
Skip forward a few years and allow me a short digression that I promise will come back full circle. Star Wars Episode II came out when I was 13. Lucas has said that he specifically marketed this particular film for 12-14 year olds, trying to bring the next generation into the fanworld. This is my main excuse for it being my favorite Star Wars movie of all times. Now before you bite my head off on the merit of that particular statement, please be aware that I watch it now and logically understand how EpVI is so much better in terms of storyline and such, but my heart will not let me back away from my love of EpII. I watched that movie every single afternoon of 7th grade. I can still quote the entire thing verbatim. I listened to a single song from the orchestral soundtrack for over a year and a half straight (oh how I wish iTunes track count existed back then. The sheer number of hours must be embarrassing): Across the Stars, the love theme.
(on the off-chance someone here doubts the brilliance of John Williams, take a listen on youtube here: Across the Stars - London Symphony Orchestra)
So you can imagine my surprise and utter glee when I found the sheet music for Across the Stars and my father bought it for me. The happiness quickly turned into frustration when I realized that nearly the whole piece was triplets against eighth notes. (the constant underlying harp/cello part is triplets, most of the melody is eighths) Now I really regretted not paying closer attention to that summer music theory class.
It took me a month of struggling and fighting and wanting to give up, but my love of the music made me persevere and finally it paid off.
I have never since had trouble with the triplet against eighth note rhythm.
Which leads us directly into today's Band Director quote:
Jacqueline (Doc's wife, who plays bass clarinet, remember?) typically does not say much during rehearsals.She is there because she enjoys playing her instrument and likes helping her husband in his work. Sometimes though, she can't help herself.
"What are you doing at measure 87? Because we have triplets but you're conducting eighths!"
Doc: "Yeah, I am."
Jacqueline: "Well don't do that!"
This made everyone laugh a bit at Jacqueline's desperation, which we all felt. But, Doc obviously learned that sometimes compromise is the best solution in both marriage and music.
Doc: "Okay, I'll compromise. I won't subdivide beat 4 but I will conduct the 8ths on beat 5."
Which we then ran through. When we finished the section, Doc smiled. "That was nice!"
Jacqueline agreed. "Yeah it was!"
We snickered, and then ran the piece from start to finish.
At the end, Doc kept his baton up, holding, holding, waiting so long I couldn't even hear any inkling of an echo of a single note in the room. And that was the moment that Doc whispered, "I think we've got it."
And got it we did.
