On August 5th, 2007 the Police began their concert with the song called “Synchronicity II.”
Yesterday, we examined the speed of the song on a graph which began its calibration on the first backbeat, or beat 2 of the song. Above, we see the same recording of the song, from the album, Synchronicity beginning on the first downbeat. Also, as you see, the versions of calibrations based on beginning on beat 1 and beat 2 are compared. As with the next two parts in this series on this most amazing of songs, the groups are compared in contiguous groups of 10 beats.
I hope you are looking forward to a graph where the speed calibration begins on beat 3 and beat 4, as they will be next.
There can be no doubt that this is one of the greatest rock compositions and recordings of the 20th century. In calibrating the song, what I have found in regard to beginning the calibration on the downbeat – beat 1 and the backbeat – beat 2, is that while Sting dominates the 1 and 3 of the 4 quarter notes and Stewart Copeland dominates the backbeats – beats 2 and 4 of the measure. In measuring, I could hear much of which made the magic of the Police happen. Quite simply, while drummer Copeland and bassist and singer Sting are the best of musicians, they play although they were in different countries, while guitarist Andrew Summers tries to fill in the middle spaces. This creates: the most exciting of counterpoint.
Sitting 3 rows from the stage over a week ago, I am surprised and happy that the performance was of such outstanding musical quality that in a way I still feel as though I am standing right there on the New Jersey field on which they played in Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Speed Summary, Synchronicity II from beat 1, the first downbeat -
beats measured=760
mean time=4 minutes, 45 seconds
mean speed=159.75 beats per minute
average beat=376 milliseconds
mean phase=2.66 cycles per second
corresponding pitch=681.6 hertz, 57 cents>E5=659.3 hertz, 43 cents>F5=698.5 hertz.
Ian Schneider
Sarah Jane Bristol
James C.C. Manning
June 12, 2008
