For example for Aegean islands (Greece) improvisational folk melodies (mandinades) condylies) with violin or Lyra, the next factors prevail.
1) "Poetic meters" over the same note sometimes notes up to 8 notes. The density of the notes is high. E.g. with 4 notes per measure-bar and a beat of 80-100 bars per minute gives a tempo of 320-400 beats-notes per minute.
3) Straight vectors ascending or descending usually of 4 or 5 notes so as to reach a new chord neighborhood.
2) Mainly waves by intervals of 2nds (chromatic) inside intervals of 3rds (melodic, either standing or ascending descending, and usually inside a chord so as to reach the neighborhood of a new chord. The simplistic sub-melody of such a waving melody is essentially an arpeggio of the underlying chord.
- Οι αρμονικες (overtones) στην πρωτη οκταβα 1-2 δινουν την τονικη
- Οι αρμονικες (overtones) στην δευτερη οκταβα 2-3-4 δινουν το power5 chord (και μινορε και ματζορε)
- Οι αρμονικες (overtones) στην τριτη οκταβα 4-5-6-7-8 δινουν την μειζωνα συγχορδια
- Οι αρμονικες (overtones) στην τεταρτη οκταβα 8-9-10-11--12-13-14-15-16 λογω του οτι πεφτουν εξω απο την δυτικη κλιμακα του μπαχ δινουν αναλογα με την στρογγυλοποιηση , την διατονικη 7-τονικη κλιμακα, την αρμονικη μινορε (χιτζαζ), την μελοδικη μινορε, την 6-τονικη κλιμακα των μπλουζ, την νεαπολιτανικη (neapolitan) κλπ.
SHORT DESCRIPTION
THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF DIFFERENT SONGS ON THE SAME CHORD-CYCLE AND THOUSANDS OF DIFFERENT IMPROVISATIONAL SONGS ON THE SAME CHORD-CYCLE.
E.G.
1) 1M
2) 5M7->1M
3) 6m->1M
4) 1M->4M->5M->1M (Cretan matinodies, kondilies)
or only 1M (3rd note) ->1M->5M7(5th note)->1M (3rd note)
or only 1M (3rd note) ->1M->1M->1M (3rd note)
e.g. as order of notes in adiatonic scale
(3 3 3 4 )(3 5 5 5) (4 2 3 4) (5 5 3) (15 syllables) and spans an interval of 4th.
As intervals of a scale they are 1-2-2
Or a different again of cyclic type:
(1'2'3'3')(1'1'2'2')(771'1')(7655)
556671'2'2'1'71'1'1'1'(again 16+14 half syllables or 8+7 syllables) and spans an interval of 4th.
Alternatively the action of the melody can be in the upper minor 3rd and in detail descending from 3' to 5 (in intervals of semitones 2-2-1-2-2) , or in the lower major 3rd, or in detail from 1' to 3 (in in intervals of semitones 1-2-2-2-1)
as rhythm from 15-syllables poetry
(1M )
10010100
(5M7)1M
1001010
(combination of anapestik 100 with trochaic 10 )
Other thythms are
100111010 or a more extreme that spans 3 powers of 2 , 10000011100100
(e.g. in Bardakis castrines condilies) .
Most often each half line of the poetic line is with 8 notes , thus all the first 8-syllables line
16 notes, and the 2nd 7-syllables line from 16 notes again or possible 14 notes, in total 32 or 28. This is the dancing fast instrumental melody.
The half-poetic line is the middle melodic theme, and also one measure, that follows the pattern of the above rhythm most of the time, and is translated up or down , and also changing shape. The trasnlations are melodic (intervals of 3rd) harmonic (intervals of 4th or 5th) or more rarely (less than 30% of the cases) chromatic (intervals of 2nd).
But inside each measure and middle melodic theme, there are the micro-melodic-themes that are oscilaltions around one note, most often by intervals of 2nds.
SLOW SINGING MELODY: this is by no means following in syllables the exact pattern of the 15-syllables poetry. Maybe it was in ancient times. But in modern times, is may vary significaly depending on the emotional state ofthe singer.
In addition to rhythm, scale and chord progression we need also the statistical profile of the progression of the simplical melodic themes (see post 282) so as to determine the local style of the particular improvisations.
E.g. in Cretan Kondilies (mandinodies) that have usually only two underlying chords (e.g. 1M->5M7->1M ) this progression during each chord (statistically determined rather than deterministically) defines the local style of the improvisational melody. E,g, 2 simplicial melodic themes for first 1M one for 5M7 and one back to 1M. In total 4 simplicial themes, the first 3 in a kind of variational repetition (translation or inversion) and one last and 4th closing one that may be mutated.
Or
Or
Or
etc (See also post 280)
Other determinations of these songs or improvisations;
0) THE HARMONY.
Although the cycle of chords is fixed, the order and duration that these chords are played may vary, from song to song, or even inside the same song ("random" permutation of the chords of the cycle).
E.g. 1M->4M->5M->1M (Cretan matinodies, kondilies)
or only 1M (3rd note) ->1M->5M(5th note)->1M (3rd note)
or only 1M (3rd note) ->1M->1M->1M (3rd note)
1) The rhythm:
The duration of the beat is determined by clock-standards. Then each chord of the cycle is determined how many beats has duration. Furthermore, the rhythm is specified as in post 10. Usually, the powers of 2 are utilized. So a triad of chords will have a repetition of a chord in duration. E.g. a cyclic pattern A B C A, of 4 groups of beats so that each chord has equal duration will also determine a variational repetition pattern of the variating melodic themes, usually 3 variations and the last time a resolution. The melody itself can be classified to the simplicial say in 4 chord-durations, or the normal in 8 chord half durations, or embellishing in 16 chord quarter durations, or fast embellishing 32 , eighths chord durations etc.
Initially, it seems that the rhythm of the main melody was patterned over 15-syllables poetry, with 4+4 beats at the first line of 8 syllables and 4+3 beats at the 2nd line of 7 syllables.
The term mantinodies is quite similar and meanings and methods with the term rhapsody of the ancient poetry of homer (Iliada, Odyssia etc)
In general, there are 4 classes:
1)The ascending (happy)
2) The descending (unhappy)
3) The upper cyclic (happily sad),
4) The lower cyclic (sadly happy).
This is a general pitch order pattern which of course has emotional significance: Increasing pitch order in the roots =joy, decreasing pitch order in the roots=sadness.
e.g. as order of notes in adiatonic scale
3 3 3 4 3 5 5 5 4 2 3 4 5 5 3
3) The pitch order pattern of the induced by the melody harpism (permutation) of the notes of each chord.
Although the part of the melody accompanied by a single chord may have notes outside the chord, it will have also notes of the chord that it is expected that they have a longer duration. Thus this part of the melody induces a permutation or harpist of the notes of the chord.
4) The variational repetition pattern of the melodic themes as part of the melody accompanied by a single chord.
MORE DETAILED ANALYSIS:
THE MAIN IDEA TO COMPOSE AND IMPROVISE SUCH FAST DANCING SOLOING IS TO RESTRICT THE HARMONY AND USED NOTES TO REALLY SIMPLEST POSSIBLE SCHEMES AND CONVERSELY ENHANCE THE COMPLEXITY IN WAVING OR ROTATING, VARIATIONAL PATTERNS
In Greek island of Creta they are considered as restrained improvisation, in the sense that each time the instrument player plays them they are a bit different but the overall musical sense and feeling is the same. The term "Condilies" or "dactilies" means in the Cretan language fingering.
See also post 159
THE VARIATIONS OF THE BASIC MICRO-THEMES (CALLED "STROFES" OR "GYRISMATA") ARE AS USUALLY TRANSLATION, INVERSION (IN TIME OR PITCH) , EXPANSION-CONTRACTION AND MUTATION
The waving such rotations are part of the melodic personality of "dachtilia" and has a name of the player, area or composer. The "rotations" are called in the Greek language "gyrismata", or "strofes" which means rotations
RHYTHMIC MICRO-THEMES AND IMPROVISATION OF THEM.
At another side nevertheless, such fast dancing solos have a "projection trace" to the rhythm exclusively as note durations and position in time irrespectively of what pitch is each note. Then the melodic micro-themes or "rotations" ("gyrismata" or "strofes") become rhythmic micro-themes, and the melodic improvisation of them becomes rhythmic improvisation. Such rhythmic improvisations obviously could be carried out with single note or on percussion instrument only (see Djembe music). When one tries to compose or improvise such melodic "rotations" the underlying rhythmic micro-themes and their variations are of primary importance as they choose where in time you put a note and how long it would sound. having chosen the rhythmic micro-themes and their variations will greatly make easy the final choice of the pitch too of each not and the melodic patterns. The rhythm here will be like a road of the mountains where we eventually drive our melodic vehicle , and this "road" is not straight by changing directions and slopes. The rhythmic variations are similar to the melodic themes variations: They have inversions in time, translation of patterns in rhythms increased or decreased by powers of 2, and mutations.
Another insight about Condilies or Dachtilies is the next: Let us remember the well known Andalusian cadenza patterned on the sub-scale 1-2-2 semitones (See post 17 and also above about Ancient Greek syntono tetrachord ) which is played by chord e.g. iv->V->IV->III . Here for condilies we may have a melodic version of it where instead of chords we play waving patterns around the notes of pitch order 1-2-2 in semitones .
Or so as to have a pure interval of 5 , 1-2-2-2 or 2-2-2-1 . And also an interval of
minor 6 : 1-2-2-2-1
If we combine the 6-notes 1-2-2-2-1 with the 4 notes 1-2-2 at one semitone distance we get the 1-2-2-2-1-1-1-2-2 which is a modulation to 2 different diatonic scales. We may also combine a diatonic scale with a 6-notes blues scale by having the 4 note of the major diatonic scale with a sharp and apply wavings by intervals of 2nd going up and down it.
Or we may combine two or 3 diatonic scales deriving a bebop 8-notes or 9-notes scale.
Other examples of subscales from here http://mantolinokrhth.blogspot.com/2012/08/blog-post.html give in semitones
1-1-2-2-1
2-2-1-2-2-1
2-1-1-1-2-2-1-2 (Bebop dominant)
1-1-1-2-2-1
2-1-1-1-2-2
It is used as we notice the Bebop dominant scale as in post 139 which fas interval structure in semitones 2-2-1-2-2-1-1-1
If we want to avoid thinking about chords or arpeggios when playing, improvising or composing such solos, then the simplest idea is the triads of notes or intervals of 3rds with all their intermediate notes in some scale. By alternating such major and minor intervals of 3rds we may give the melody an underlying good harmonic content (see also post 159 about vector-intervals)
Somewhere in the wavings by 2nds we double the speed of waving for 2-3 such oscillations
Usual rhythms are, Cretan dance (pidichtos) and reels dancing (1110). But also (1010100010001000)
We very often in condillies may use the descending sequence of notes 1'-7-6-5-4-3 as steps of the diatonic scale (in semitones 1-2-2-2-1) in 3 melodic triads, one descending and two cyclic : 1'-1'-7-6 the 5-7-7-6-5, 3-4-4-4-5-4-4-3 (chord progression of 5 steps on 3 chords I-IV-V-IV-I) Or it could be with three waves one ascending and two cyclic 3-4-5 6-7-6-6-5-5 3-4-4-4-5-4-4-3 and with chord progression of 5 steps on three chords I-IV-I-V-I
As harmony it is usually a permutation of the the chords I, IV,V. But as melody it is usually three melodic triads (vector intervals of 3rds see post 208) two minor and one major.
The rhythm is from a 15-syllables poetry so the first two minor/major melodic triads count 8 syllables (beats) while the last melodic triad or last two melodic triads count 7 beats or syllables. Nevertheless the melody of the voice and the counter melody of the instrument maybe different although on the same sub-scale (usually in semitones 1-2-2-2-1 or in steps of the scale 1'-7-6-5-4-3 ) and with the same chord progression on the I, IV V. In some cases the melody of the voice may use only 2 or only 1 of the melodic triads with a sub-chord progression fewer chords , but from the same chord progression.
We may count each of the poetic lines, the 1st of 8 beats and syllables and the 2nd of 7 beats or syllables as 1) The Upper cycles 2) the Lower cycles 3) The ascending 4) the descending,
Obviously the most sad are the Descending-Descending and the most joyful the ascending ascending. While interpediateare e.g. Descending-upper cycle (sad) , or Upper-cycle-upper cycle (a little happy) or Ascending-upper-cycle (a bit more happy) , lower cycle - lower cycle ( a little happier) and ascending-lower cycle (much happier).
Somehow all dactilies (condilies) could be considered "the same big tune" with unlimited variations, open to continuing by the players and also with known words (maninades) but also open to unlimited variations and be continued by the players and singers.
This is similar to songs of Portuguese fado, where a single chord progression patterned on the intervals 1-2-2 makes an unlimited pattern of tunes and variations.
Here in dactlilies (condilies) also there are unique characteristic morphological patterns which are 2 or 3 waving by intervals of 2nd cadenzas of 3-4 notes , and all of them within an interval of 4 or 5th (1-2-2 or 1-2-2-2).
This some how determine repetition patterns of rotations (gyrismata or strifes) .
Of course in some cases depending on the waving we may use the chords progression
I->V->IV->I, where the 3rd chord is of very short duration.
In Greek Cretan such soloing (dachtilies) only up to two major chords are used as above.
But if someone wants a more free composition and improvisation of them then minor chords can be included as below.
If we want to accompany such condillies melodies not with one power chord but with major or minor triads then they should be as few as possible e.g. 2 or 3. For happy melodies obviously, they are the I, IV, V. According to the degree of sadness we want to impose, we substitute any of the major chords with its lower minor relative. In other words vi for I, ii for IV and iii for V.
About the symbols: In a C major scale the symbols denote the next chords
I=1M=C
ii=2m=Dm
iii=3m=Em
IV=4M=F
V=5M=G
vi=6m=Am
vii=7d=Bdim
So the possible combinations are
I, IV, V or only I, V
vi , IV, V or only vi, V
I , ii, V
I, IV, iii or only I, iii
iv , ii, V or only iv, V
I , ii, iii or only I, iii
vi, IV, iii or only I, iii
vi, ii, iii or only vi, iii
We must understand that the dancing melodies of melodic improvisation that are of a high degree of freedom in changes and are accompanied only by a root power chord 1-5-1' are a different class of melodies of harmonic improvisation that are those that during not very short intervals of time are accompanied by a 3-notes chord of the scale. An example of a melody that the only reasonable accompanying chord is a root power chord is to go up and down several times all the 7 notes scale and fast enough. Theoretically, one could accompany it with very fast changing 3-notes chords but exactly because it is very fast changing it is meaningless and it is better only a root power chord. On the other hand, singing melodies that can be divided into a small number and of significant duration time intervals during which they have clear 3-notes major or minor or diminished accompanying chord (preferably with another instrument than the soloing instrument) have better harmony if accompanied by such major or minor chords rather than a single root power chord.
A basic "signature" of a condilia is the simplicial submelody basic melodic theme as shape and pattern,which of course is parallel to the chord-progression pattern as rhythm and repetitions.
Examples of Cretan Condilies
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqc92Y9zPqA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDmwVbhA9No
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXok6nsT17M
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejmMrb2r2ic
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owDv_QyZutI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjH68cAuoD8
http://mantolinokrhth.blogspot.com/2012/08/blog-post.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUw_m_VUw_g
Irish Reels
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njgAjaAGebw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2iHNSlJMfc
HERE WE LIST AND DISCUSS SHORT SUBSCALES OF THE CHROMATIC 12-TONE SCALE THAT CAN BE USED FOR REPETITIVE SOLOING. SOME OF THEM ARE KNOWN 4-CHORDS 5-CHORD 6-CHORDS OR SIMPLY CONNECTED PIECES FROM BEBOP SCALES DERIVED FROM THE SUPERPOSITION OF 2 OR 3 DIATONIC SCALES. THIS DOES NOT MEAN THAT THEY ARE MET ALL OF THEM IN CRETAN DACHTILIES AND IRISH REELS BUT THAT CAN BE USED FOR OUR OWN INSPIRED COMPOSITION AND IMPROVISATION
Syntono 1-2-2 in semitones
Obviously usually intervals of 1, 2 or 3,4 semitones are played horizontally on a single string while intervals of 3,4 of 5 of 7 are played vertically among strings.
Here is a group of musicians playing simultaneously Cretan codilies and Irish reels over the same chord progressions , for dancing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hiksW0XdFg4