All this stuff about Tempi is sort of interesting. What is "right", is not for me as interesting as WHY certain tempi work. Human Physiology dosn't vary that much (Dinner plates are the same size all over the world). Understanding tempi is also about understanding its function. Marches should be played at marching speed. Watch people going across the Millenium bridge. They are all going at more or less the same speed. As you play pretend you are marching home after you have escaped a bloody, painful death in a battle you were forced to go to avoid your house being burned. If you are only a few miles from your loved ones, and you see the hills of home you'll start to swing into a retreat march, and my won't the tune go, and be just "right" You are playing at a dance and are not sure of the tempo. Dance it through in your head and pick up the pulse. This of course depends on some familliarity with the dance and and being a "no bad" dancer. So if you want to be a dance musician, first learn to dance. Why are reels good at between 108\116 BPM? Moderate areobic exercise, which allows a moderately fat, moderately middle aged man, to chat up a moderately beautiful partner, while getting all the appropriate endorphins to kick in to keep you going all night, produces a heart rate of 108/116BPM. So in theory a good band is so sensitve to the audience and the audience is so sensitive to the band that a commomn pulse builds in the hall, and we all get HIGH. Please consult a whirling dervish to confirm AY STAN
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