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Message: <blockquote data-quote="MiguelATF" data-source="post: 396690" data-attributes="member: 4648">Many - actually most - of the complex 'uneven' rhythms which proliferate all over the Balkans - but are found especially in parts of Macedonia and Bulgaria - come from the centuries of Ottoman rule, when many of the Turkish rhythms were both adopted but then further improvised upon by the locals. Many of whom are or were from the Rom or gypsy culture.  I've actually been playing (and occasionally performing) as a percussionist with a number of assorted Balkan groups over the last three or four decades, and longer than that still - and the truth is, when you hear - and sometimes play - and sometimes dance to - these rhythms which seem exotic and complex to those who come out of the more even-metered occidental traditions ... it really is much more 'easy'.  7/8 is one of the classic rhythms which is played both slowly and at warp speeds (often by the newer generation of so-called Bulgarian 'Wedding Music' gypsy musicians, like Ivo Papasov and his ensembles); it is often counted 1-2-3, 1-2, 1-2 - in which the 1-2-3 simplifies to a 'long(er)' beat, and the 1-2's are 'short' beats - so in its simpler forms, the rhythm is counted as: long, short, short... long, short, short... etc. But most people who have grown up with these rhythms - including the more complex 11/8 and 13/8 (and other even more seemingly mind-numbing variations) - don't actually 'count them out' - you just sort of tap your foot and 'feel it'.A further complication is that, all over the Balkans - and Turkey and the Middle East - as well as across North Africa - where there is a commonality of so-called odd-metered music and rhythms - most musicians tend to 'syncopate' their playing like mad, all the time - which makes it harder for many Western-trained musicians... to master.But your friend of Greek Origin is 1000% right - they do dance to it.  And when they do - often in large circles - it's really astoundingly cool <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /></blockquote>

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