Rhythm/Syncopation in Jazz and Romantic Era Music

In Black American music, rhythm is a vitally dynamic aspect of music production. Even without traditional drums or organized foot-tapping, the use of rhythm in all fields of jazz - including ragtime - is key. A primary rhythmical element found throughout all areas of jazz is syncopation. Syncopation occurs when notes are off-beat and the flow of the rhythm is interrupted. A syncopated piece is able to put emphasis on notes that are not the downbeat, or the note at the beginning of a measure. Instead, syncopated notes can be elsewhere in a given measure and they will be emphasized. A classic example of syncopation is the archetypal ragtime piece "Maple Leaf Rag," composed by Scott Joplin in 1899. Throughout the piece, syncopation is used heavily, especially in the melodic right hand. The notes are played in an organized but off-beat manner, and this puts emphasis on the scalar flow of the melody. There is an increased level of syncopation as the piece moves from strain to strain. The off-beat nature of the transition puts more emphasis on the transitions themselves. Throughout many Black American traditional instrumental pieces, syncopation and other elements of rhythm are used to make the music more interesting and varied. It is common to have syncopation in more dynamic parts of the individual pieces.

Rhythmical elements in classical music provide the foundation for the entire composition. Changing rhythms can bring a change in mood, tone, message, or melody. A rhythmic shift can change the entire piece significantly. In the Romantic era, there are common notable tempo shifts and time signature changes. In coordination with the melody, there is often irregular phrasing, in which rhythm is contrasted suddenly. Towards the peak of the period, the composers began to forgo the traditional sets of rhythm and replace them with innovative styles and elements. Like jazz, syncopation played a major part in rhythmic values in the Romantic era. This can be observed in Tchaikovsky's Fourth Symphony, Op. 36. Specifically in the third movement, there is an apparent syncopation between the winds and percussion. Throughout the movement, the emphasis is placed on notes throughout the middle of specific measures, rather than at the downbeat. This is evident of syncopation, as the irregular emphasis causes interruptions in a smooth rhythmical flow. The syncopated rhythm builds in swells, and the irregular rhythm accents the dynamic changes. Throughout classical music, specifically in the Romantic era, syncopated rhythm was used to emphasize irregular musical elements.