Deriving harmony from Salsa music and disparate dance movement
This is the precise diagram of the song Descarga Numero Dos by Chico O'Farrill. This diagram was used to match the footwork and partner themes exactly to the phrasing in this complex music. This became an essential tool for producing a well timed piece of choreography.
The numbers in bold symbolize the number of measures (eight counts for simplicity) for each musical phrase. The small numbers below each measure count symbolize the single counts within the measure that the instrumentation falls. Thus, each musical note and most of the pauses are accounted for.
For this tool to be of use, one must listen closely to the music and follow along with the diagram. Once the numerical notation is understood, steps can be matched to the notation to create innumerable combinations of footwork and partner patterns. Feel free to replicate this technique with your own music and dance. Please send us an describing your results or questions.
2 - intro with horn and flute: 0-4 seconds
1,2,4,5,7,8
2,3,4,5 to 7&8 is the flute
2 - first horn melody: 4-8 seconds
1,2,3,4,5 to 7
1,2,3,4,5 to 7
4 - first horn solo: 8-16 seconds
1&2&3&4&5&6&7&8&
1&2,3 to 6&7&8&
1,2,3,4,5,6 (7,8
1,2 blank) 3,4-5&6&7&8& continued in next 4 solo part
4 - first horn melody over horn solo: 16-24 seconds
Melody:
3 to 5 to 8
3 to 5 to 8
3 to 5 to 8
3 to 5 to 8
Solo:
1&2&3&4&5&6&7&8&
1 to &5&
2&3&4&5&6&7&8&
1 to 3 (4,5,6 blank) 7,8&1
1 - first break: 24-26 seconds
piano: 1,2,3,5,6,7
timbales run: 8&1
4 - second horn solo: 26-34 seconds
1,2,4,5,7,8
,2,3, - 6&7&8&
1&2&3&4&5,6(7,8 blank)&
1,2,3,4,5&6,7&8
4 - second horn melody over horn solo: the horn solo is drowned out by the melody horns: 34-42 seconds
1 to 3 to 5,7&8
1,2,3 to 5
1 to 3 to 5,7&8
1,2,3 to 5 - 7,8 are the last notes of the horn solo
4 - intro to second break and second break: 42-50 seconds
1,2,4,5,7&8
1,2,4,5,7&8
1,2,4,5,7&8
1,3,5,7,8
4 - flute theme: 50-58 seconds
3&4,5&6&7&8
3&4,5&6&7
3&4,5&6&7&8
3&4,5&6&7
4 - first horn melody over flute solo: 58-1:06 seconds
Melody:
2 to 4,5 to 7
2 to 4,5 to 7
2 to 4,5 to 7
2 to 4,5 to 7
Solo:
1&2&3&4&5&6&7&8&
1&2&3&4&5,6& climbing notes 7&8&
1-6&7&8&
12-56&78&
4 - first flute solo: 1:06-1:14 seconds
1&234567&8
456&7
1&2&3&4&5&6&78&
123&4&-56
4 - second horn melody over flute solo: 1:14-1:22 seconds
Melody:
2 to 4,5 to 7
2 to 4,5 to 7
2 to 4,5 to 7
2 to 4,5 to 7
Solo:
2 through 7
2 through 78&
1&2 through 78&
1 through 6 - 7,8,1 end of flute for bass
4 - first bass solo: 1:22-1:30 seconds
8&12345678
123456&78
12-&4-&7
&3-&78
4 - first conga solo: 1:30-1:38 seconds
2-5-7&8&1
2-4&5&6
1&2&3 - 5&6&7&8
2-45-7-8&1
4 - third damped horn solo: 1:38-1:45 seconds
2&345&6&7&8
1&2&34-78&
12345678&
1&2&3&45678&1
4 - first timbales solo: 1:45-1:53 seconds
1&23 - 4&5 - 7
123&456-7
2&a3 - 4&a56
1&a2&a34&a5&a678&
8 - first piano solo: 1:53-2:08 seconds
1&2&3456&78
1&23&-56
345678
1&23&-56 - 8&
1-3&4&56 - 8&
1-3&4&567&8&
1&2&a3&4&5&6&a78&
1&a2&a3&4&a56
4 - flute theme: 2:08-2:16 seconds
12&3456&7&8
12&3456
12&3456&7&8
12&3456
4 - flute build up: 2:16-2:24 seconds
135 (low note) 7
135 (high note) 7
135 (low note) 7
135 (high note) 7
4 - first final horn melody with flute solo and timbales run: 2:24-2:32 seconds
1 to 3 to 5,7&8
1,2,3 to 5 (&a6&a7 - flute run)
1 to 3 to 5,7&8
1,2,34 (5&a6&a7&a8 timbales)
4 - second final horn melody with flute solo and timbales run: 2:32-2:40 seconds
1 to 3 to 5,7&8
1,2,3 to 5 (&6&7&a8 - flute run)
1 to 3 to 5,7&8
1,2,34 (5&a6-7&a8 timbales)
4 - final horn melody with flute solo and end: 2:40-2:48 seconds
1 to 3 to 5,7&8
1,2,3 to 5 (flute run)
1 to 3 to 5,7&8
1,2,34 - 7 - 1