Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Memory Day: Twelve Years Ago Today

Twelve years ago, on February 25, 2003, I was a grad student finishing up my Masters at Florida State. After spending the day sparring with committee members for my upcoming thesis defense, I played in a basketball game with the Music Theory basketball team against a team called "Happy Hour". We lost, 62-22, and 3 of our 4 starters had accrued fouls by game's end. I also got in a shouting match with a frat boy who fouled me, which got me a foul.

I also spent the day helping a procrastinating Kathy finish up her presentation (to be presented 24 hours later), Where's the Beat? Metrical Ambiguities in the Introductions of New Wave Pop Songs of the 1980s, by applying PDF magicks to handouts and proofreading her prose.

boyllama (8:49:02 PM): how's it comin'?
ksb629 (8:49:15 PM): on conclusion
ksb629 (8:49:23 PM): need help
ksb629 (8:49:37 PM): Each of these examples demonstrates the possibility of multiple interpretations when establishing meter. In every case, the song began with an event that was neither a clear upbeat or downbeat. In such cases, I believe that it is reasonable to assume that the first event is a downbeat. This metrical interpretation seems correct until the established meter is disturbed or overpowered by another, stronger layer of sound. In most examples, it is possible to hear the "correct" interpretation of the metric placement retroactively, although even then it is frequently difficult to feel it correctly until the most dominant layer enters.
boyllama (8:55:40 PM): Each of these examples provides an open-ended scenario for a listener who is trying to establish meter. Every song began with an event that could be either an upbeat or a downbeat. In such ambiguous cases, it is reasonable to assume that the first event is a downbeat. This metrical interpretation feels correct by default, until the established pulse is disturbed or overpowered by a stronger layer of sound. It is sometimes possible to determine the true metric placement retroactively, although even then, it can be difficult to hear with confidence until the dominant layer enters.
ksb629 (9:17:05 PM): thanks
boyllama (9:17:14 PM): no problem
ksb629 (9:18:49 PM): fucking shit fuck
ksb629 (9:18:57 PM): I closed your window that had your suggested changes
ksb629 (9:19:00 PM): poop!

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