After the infamous slip jig, hornpipe rhythm generates the most questions.  Hornpipes have their own rhythm and melodic structure that distinguishes them from reels.

Rhythm

Most musicians, and probably many dancers, have been told hornpipes have bouncy or swingy rhythm. This is most apparent when played slowly for dancers, and it fits those steps very well. The diagram shows the subdivision “triplet” that gives this character, distinguishing it from a reel. If you look at the subdivisions and hum the first measure (don’t count the first two lead in notes) of one of the most commonly played hornpipe for dancers, “Harvest Home”, putting notes where the arrows occur, you’ll see that it fits perfectly.

Melodic Structure

Besides the abstract “sailor” quality of the tune, hornpipes commonly have two distinguishable melodic characteristics:

1 – The last four measures of the first part are repeated for the last four measures of the second part.  Sometimes only the last two are repeated, but four is more common.

2 – The final measure of each part ends with three strong notes, as shown by the black arrows below.  The red arrows show where notes appear when leading into the second part of the tune, or back into the first part, but the strong sound is still on the black arrows.  A musician may choose to play more notes in the final measures of each part, but for both the musician and dancer, that should be considered a variation.

So, to play very characteristic hornpipes, or dance very strongly to one, emphasize the traditional characteristics of the triplet subdivisions and the strong ending notes!

Related posts:

1. Treble & Slip Jig or Hornpipe & Reel?
2. Mastering Hornpipe and Reel for Crossroads Feis to Prepare for Oireachtas
3. Listen For Phrases To Improve Hearing, Playing & Dancing
4. New Irish Dance Music Album Launched
5. Understanding Your “Slippery” Slip Jigs