It’s worth considering that 4/4 musical rhythms are prevalent in cultures where the horse was the dominant mode of transportation and powered labor. The 4-beat rhythm of the majority of horse gaits may have influenced music and dance, maybe from military drill, or just from everyday common equestrian practice. Upbeat dance beats in cut t…
It’s worth considering that 4/4 musical rhythms are prevalent in cultures where the horse was the dominant mode of transportation and powered labor. The 4-beat rhythm of the majority of horse gaits may have influenced music and dance, maybe from military drill, or just from everyday common equestrian practice. Upbeat dance beats in cut time, like the polka, resemble a trot; variants to the steady 4-beat are present in other gaits, but four legs and four beats seem to go together. My wife, the resident equestrienne, told me that she had seen a study where horses’ level of calm vs. agitation was observed when they were exposed to different types of music, and the music that disturbed them the most was jazz, I assume related to syncopation and rhythmic ambiguity.
As the British actress Mrs Patrick Campbell said "My dear, I don't care what they do, so long as they don't do it in the street and frighten the horses." Not sure she was referring to jazz but interesting that it has that effect.
It’s worth considering that 4/4 musical rhythms are prevalent in cultures where the horse was the dominant mode of transportation and powered labor. The 4-beat rhythm of the majority of horse gaits may have influenced music and dance, maybe from military drill, or just from everyday common equestrian practice. Upbeat dance beats in cut time, like the polka, resemble a trot; variants to the steady 4-beat are present in other gaits, but four legs and four beats seem to go together. My wife, the resident equestrienne, told me that she had seen a study where horses’ level of calm vs. agitation was observed when they were exposed to different types of music, and the music that disturbed them the most was jazz, I assume related to syncopation and rhythmic ambiguity.
As the British actress Mrs Patrick Campbell said "My dear, I don't care what they do, so long as they don't do it in the street and frighten the horses." Not sure she was referring to jazz but interesting that it has that effect.