This 11-page document succinctly presents my research findings from my dissertation. It explains my theory of how the Haitian quintolet and Puerto Rican elastic tresillo type B rhythms preserve cross-rhythms with misalignment to the duple meter to allow true independence between duple and tresillo-based triple-metered rhythms. Traditional use with the cinquillo rhythm for the tresillo-based five-beat syncopated rhythm synchronizes to the duple meter to disallow cross-rhythms. It also explains my theories about the execution of these rhythms (even division of the tresillo rhythm) and my concept of syncopation ratio to differentiate and categorize multiple transcriptions of the same syncopated rhythm.
2023 World Piano Conference
Here is my presentation for the online edition of the 15th World Piano Conference. It discusses the execution of the tresillo-based five-beat syncopated rhythm from the ground up, how this rhythm, notated as the Haitian quintolet and Puerto Rican elastic tresillo rhythms, preserves cross-rhythms in Haitian compositions, and a quantitative system for categorizing syncopated rhythms.
https://www.wpta.info/wpc/15th/
Presentation in Montreal
Dr. Claude Dauphin, the co-founder of the SRDMH archive and top musicologist of Haitian music, asked me to present at the conference entitled “Valorisation des répertoires musicaux classiques afro-diasporiques” on September 30 in Montreal to publicize their new digital editions of Haitian art music. I presented on the topic, given from Dr. Dauphin: “Uses and Categories of Syncopated Rhythm Notation in Piano Art Music from Haiti (Méringue-Quintolet), Puerto Rico (Elastic Tresillo) and Cuba (Cinquillo).” I also provided the closing performance of Julio Racine’s Vodou Jazz Flute Sonata with Dr. Dauphin’s wife, Edith.
https://youtu.be/hwGauH_1kyE?si=wZurUPz0SxfnD1pd
I will make similar presentations for the online version of the 2023 World Piano Conference, which will go online in November, and the MMTA State Conference at Mississippi State on October 27th.
Dr Bill Harned to Present at 2023 MTNA National Conference – 3/27/23
Bill will present Performance Practice of Innovative Caribbean Rhythmic Notations in Stylized Compositions of the Haitian Méringue based on his dissertation research at the Nugget Casino at 10:30am in the Sierra 1 room.
MTNA Website’s Schedule with a downloadable Handout:
Presentation for the World Piano Conference
Here’s a link to my presentation about how the Haitian quintolet and Puerto Rican elastic tresillo rhythms preserve cross-rhythms. I was able to expose several excerpts of this relatively unknown music with examples provided with music.
Hatian Méringue Through Stylized Piano Compositions from 1880 to 1930 – Download my dissertation
Dr Bill Harned discusses the Haitian Méringue by analyzing recently published stylized pieces for the piano from the SRDMH archive in Montreal. It also explains the performance practice of unique rhythmic notations from Haiti and Puerto Rico.
The many figures of musical excerpts throughout show examples of these constructs. The interview with the S.R.D.M.H. archive founder and musicologist, Claude Dauphin, at p. 130 provides a wide range of information concerning the Haitian musical style. In 2014 Dauphin published Histoire du style musical d’ Haïti, which is considered as the most extensive work on Haitian music.
I will be discussing how these rhythms preserve cross-rhythms between duple and triple meters in the online version of the World Piano Conference based out of Serbia in October 2022. In a shorter presentation at the MTNA National Conference in Reno in March 2023, I will only discuss the performance practice of these innovative rhythmic notations.
Méringue Recital
In August 2019 I gave an informal recital for family on my grandmother Nellie Jean Harned’s (who was also 3/8 Cherokee) upright piano of Haitian Méringues that I will be analyzing for my dissertation. The SRDMH archive in Montreal has been converting relatively unknown Haitian classical music into digital format for purchase.
From this recital you can only find tracks 12 and 13 on Youtube. The rest are unknown to the public though you may know the tune to Track 3 as “Yellow Bird.”
