OT The Sub Pulse was West African/African Diaspora rhythms: 3/4,4/4, 6/8, 12/8

[Rick Walker <looppool@cruzio.com>]

  dear Mark Showalter,  you wrote:
> ".......explain to a court what a "sub-pulse" is........
> Good luck on that one because as a composer/arranger with 8 years as a
> theory/composition in 2 colleges, I'm still not clear on what the hell a
> sub-pulse is even though several drummers/percussionists that I
> have worked with
> in the past have explained it to me over the years.
and then go on to say:

  "BTW, please do NOT try to explain what a sub-pulse is as I have  the 
feeling it
  would start a cascade of email arguments that would shut downthe world 
wideinternet!"

***************************************************************************************

I really don't want to get you wrong (and please correct me if I'm 
mistaken), but what I am
understanding about your stance here is that you seem to be dismissively 
telling us
that you don't understand a musical level of sophistication that is 
understood by
tens of thousands of groove musicians around the planet (whether they use 
the term
'sub pulse' or not) and that you profess to have no desire to educate 
yourself, or
grow further as a musician, merely because it is a concept that was not 
included in
your entirely Euro-centric (albeit rigorous and valuable) education about 
musical styles.

I certainly have respect for the 8 years you spent studying Harmony and 
Melody
in a rigorous academic environment.

I just find it curious that you don't seem to have the same respect for my
(or any other drummer/percussionist/arrangers) knowledge
which has been accrued from 40 years of playing in popular styled bands as 
a band leader,
arranger, composer, producer and instrumentalist(33 of them as a 
professional).

I'm positive I could learn a thing or two from you about the things you 
have so
deeply studied and am eager to do so if the chance presents itself.

I wonder why you don't appear open to knowledge  that I (or some other
drummer) could teach you about the world of rhythm, conversely.

The concept of a sub pulse is a very simple one and can be demonstrated 
very easily with a few
choice examples.   This concept absolutely defines the way human beings 
respond to
syncopation on a neurophysiological level and is easily demonstrable with 
sonic examples.

I'd be happy to share it with you unless you feel your mind is closed.