#Detrás del Pentagrama! #"The Secret of the #Clave"

                  "THE SECRET OF THE CLAVE"

By Omar Alfonso Reyes-Canto

  The most important aspect in all Afro Cuban music styles is the concept of the sense of the Clave. This consist in a bi-measured rhythmical pattern composed of two and three percussive cells respectively, that altogether projects the state or direction of the sense of the Clave; orienting the course of all parameters of the musical composition into a general rhythmic encause…

   More than any other aspect into the composition matters in all Cuban popular music styles, the state or direction of the two rhythmic cells that compose the rhythmic camp of the Clave, is the most significant element to always have in extreme consideration.

   As much for the composers, as well as for the musical directors, conductors, arrangers, and interprets, the profound knowledge of this unique musical composition concept known like the “Bi-measured Combination”, produces the sense of the Clave; being the aspect of the most vital importance amount all others in Afro Cuban music styles…

   At the time of applying the same in any musical composition, not only into the Cuban popular music, but regularly in all music of African ancestry, specially the Caribbean music, the first thing to do is to analyze the musical composition by every measure, from the beginning to the end of the entire piece, as well as the different periods; in order to determine what will be the direction or state of the sense of the Clave.

   Moreover, in terms of understanding this bi-measured musical composition concept, intrinsically in the sense of deciding the correct direction of the Clave, that have to be decided according to its two states, the original one (the 3-2 state) and its inversion (the 2-3 state), the most important factor is -without any dude-, the end of the contour of the main melody.

   In addition to that, as well as the main melody offers a clear first indication to take in consideration in order to determine the direction or state of the Clave, also there are other factors that could influence other direction of the Clave… -like for example, some supporting phrases of the music arrangement, that by its rhythmic and harmonic projection, it could very well be the greater roll I order to finally determinate the state or direction of the Clave…

Omar

Notes

In my book “The Secret of the Clave” (in English with Spanish translation), all these aspects are completed covered.

So far, I have not tried to publish my book yet, with the only exception in FIU, but I think that it could be an excellent gain, especially for professors, teachers, musicians, conductor, arrangers, and students…