Here’s a list of common Balkan rhythms, additional ways to break up complex meters.
This is a vast simplification. You won’t be creating anything representing these styles follow this chart.
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Pajduško (pie-DOOSH-koh) (5/16) – 2+3
Râčenica (rah-cheh-NEE-tsah) (7/16) – 2+2+3
Četvorno (chet-VOR-no) (7/16) – 3+2+2
Lesnoto (LEHS-noh-toh) (7/8) – 3+2+2
Dajčovo (DIE-choh-voh) (9/16) – 2+2+2+3
Devetorka (deh-VEH-tohr-kah) (9/8) – 2+2+2+3
Kopanica (KOH-pah-nee-tsah) (11/16) – 2+2+3+2+2
Postupano (poh-STOO-pah-no) -OR- Krivo (KREE-voh) (13/16) – 2+2+2+3+2+2
Beranče (BEY-rahn-tcheh) (13/16) – (3+2)+3+(3+2)
Bučimiš (boo-chee-MEESH) (15/16) – 2+2+2+2+3+2+2
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The tempo can be quite high so this condenses down larger meters to shorter ones with uneven beats. To get a feel for these beats you can clap these while counting (evenly), a good skill. So for instance Pajduško:
clap…clap
1…2…1…2…3
Eventually you won’t need to count, Pajduško then becomes short+long. They are often represented that way substituting ‘short’ for 2 and ‘long’ for 3.
A good source for western sheet music for various traditional melodies for these rhythm patterns can be found in “The Pinewoods International Collection” by Tom Paxton (Nightshade Publications).
Acknowledgment:
I have a real admiration for anyone raised in these traditions who learned this by hearing, dancing and living these rhythms. This table doesn’t even scratch the surface. I welcome any corrections, and would love to learn more. I know there are spelling variations of these.
[Sept 1 – Minor changes to improve post.]