Uploaded January 2019 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

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Unless you grew up in the Balkans, 9/8 and other time signatures are hard to feel! However, identifying and entraining with non-isochronal pulses will help you 1) become a better musician and 2) hopefully maybe be a better person by being able to connect with a different culture.

LISTEN TO BIRD ON THE WING (and other sungazer tunes on our new EP!)
spoti.fi/2MaHbb9

PAPER’S CITED
pnas.org/content/106/7/2468 (Newborns detect beats)
bit.ly/2M8BoTx (Measuring Aksak rhythms in Transylvania)
bit.ly/2QOIVY7 (human specificity of beat synchronization)

GENERAL BALKAN FOLK DANCE RESOURCES
folkdancefootnotes.org/begin/the-taproot-family-t-4-t-6-t-8-t-7u-t-9u-t-11u
sfdh.us/encyclopedia/9-8_dances.html
babayagamusic.com/Music/nine-eight-rhythms.htm
revolvy.com/page/Bulgarian-dances

David Bruce Composer’s video that mentions Cameroonian 9/8 (among other things!)
youtube.com/watch?v=kBNvPb331SQ

Irish Slipjig (9/8)
youtube.com/watch?v=FxMVMZo7yvo
youtube.com/watch?v=fyE3Mye-eks

9/8 Dances Used -
youtube.com/watch?v=73RjI2z41LY (Sareni Tsourapi) Greece
youtu.be/nKxZu5C9juA (Biala Rosa) Bulgaria
youtube.com/watch?v=SPq6xBXT-O8 (potter’s dance) Bulgaria
youtu.be/mdaqTl91-3M (Niška Banja) Serbia
youtu.be/9E1khd55VnQ (Niška Banja) Serbia
youtube.com/watch?v=a5U-awdxIfk (Antikristos Karsilamas) Greece
youtu.be/2_NhnHSTKkE (Schioapa) Romania
youtu.be/m_xt1bgef14 (karşılama) Turkey
youtu.be/FGTya-JclKI (Sareni Tsourapi) Greece

Meshuggah, OG’s of the isochronal entraining element
youtube.com/watch?v=yO1EjyhTMPc

(⌐■_■)

⦿WHAT'S THE BACKGROUND MUSIC?! (my band!)⦿
spoti.fi/2AKAAQ6

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teespring.com/stores/adam-neely-merchandise

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patreon.com/adamneely

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facebook.com/adamneely
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⦿ Check out some more of my music ⦿
sungazermusic.bandcamp.com
insideoutsidemusic.bandcamp.com
adamneelymusic.bandcamp.com

Peace,
Adam