Arranging Advanced Flashcards
What does a solid arrow mean in contemporary analysis?
A dominant chord resolving to a target chord a P5 or m2 lower
What is interpolation?
The insertion of a chord or chords to interrupt normal progression
What does a solid bracket identify in contemporary analysis?
A ii7 - V7 progression
What does standing in unison and octaves do?
Accentuates a melody, provides clarity to the listener on the motif or theme of the music
What is timbre?
The inherent qualitative properties of a particular sound that is made up of a specific fundamental frequency or pitch and its harmonic overtone series
True or false: unisons add weight, octaves add projection
True
What is tone color?
Differences in timbre
What are the qualities of high timbre instruments?
Upper register: clear and bright
Low register: rich and velvety
What are the qualities of medium timbres?
Upper register: centered, warm, rich
Lower register: full or dark
What are the qualities of low timbres?
Upper register: full, rich, warm
Lower registers: dark, coarse, sonorous
What are the low timbre instruments?
Baritone sax, bass trombone, tuba, piano LH, string bass, bass guitar, timpani
What are the medium timbre instruments?
Tenor sax, bassoon, English horn, euphonium, trombone, French horn, guitar
What are the high timbre instruments?
Flute/piccolo, oboe, clarinet, alto/soprano sax, trumpet/corner, piano RH/harp, bells/tubular bells
How is a hollow or incomplete sound created?
Octave doubling with high and low timbre instruments
What does the rhythm section consist of?
Piano or electric keys, guitar, bass, and drums
What is comping?
A jazz term to describe the accompaniment the rhythm section creates when not specifically indicated; notated by a series of slashes and chord symbols
What is the purpose of musical notation with slash notation?
A technique used when something specifically needs to be emphasized but then the musician returns to coming
What is the piano’s role in a rhythm section?
Provide melodies and harmonies coupled with bass and rhythmic pulse
What is comping with accents for piano?
Used when the arranger wants the pianist to perform specified rhythms with the comping
What is the purpose of coming with rhythmic notation and lead notes?
Limit the range of voicing, highlight or duplicate a melody or idea, provide shape to a melodic line, emphasize voice leading in the chord progression
Why is fully notated used?
When the arranger wants to communicate something very specific; to remain consistent, chord changes are recommended throughout, even if not necessary
What are the purposes of standing fully notated?
Double melodic lines, create color texture and dynamic support, perform specific lines in the ensemble, provide clarity to the phrase, emphasize and create depth in articulated lines
What is the guitar’s role in the rhythm section?
Adds clarity and emphasis as a doubling instrument; percussive nature adds intensity
What do guitarists perform when coping with pianists?
Simple triadic outlines
What is the bass’s role in a rhythm section?
Communicating tempo and groove; contributes to movement, dynamic contrast, and shaping of the music
How are bass parts notated?
Always in bass clef on a five-line staff
What is the minimum notation required for bass?
Slash notation with chord symbols
What kind of notation indicates the notes that must be performed by the bass player?
Comping with specified notation
True or false: repetitive bass parts fully notate the rhythms AND notes to be performed.
False. Bass player is responsible for maintaining the appropriate or same rhythmic pattern while transposing the notes for each chord change
What are the basic guidelines for creating bass lines?
Predominantly quarter notes on the beat; arpeggiated lines are stylistically appropriate for swing; extensions with arpeggiated movement create a modern and linear feel; be aware of bass range; new chords start with the root; lines are created by inserting passing tones between the roots of chord changes
What is the primary function of the drum set?
Establish and maintain time. Additionally it communicates dynamics.
What instruments are in a drum set?
Kick drum (bass), snare, tom tom(s), hi hat, and cymbals (crash/ride)
What does the right foot play on the drum set?
Kick drum (style pattern, accents)
What dies the left foot play in drum set?
Hi hat pedal (style patterns with drum sticks on top of hat or w/pedal)
What does right hand play on drum set?
Stick, brush, mallet (alone: time pattern on cymbals, accents on snare/toms; with LH: rolls, snare patterns, double-handed accents or fills)
What does the left hand do in drum set?
Stick, brush, mallet (alone: accents on snare/toms, additional embellishments on cymbals; with RH: rolls, snare patterns, double-handed accents and fills)
How is drum set beamed?
Hands are beamed up, feet are beamed down
What are the purposes of Ensemble figures?
Indicate to the drummer to stop playing time and perform the written accents; require both hands; written on third line of the staff; slash notation denotes resume time
What are kicks?
Communicate the accent played in conjunction with the time pattern; written on the space above the staff
What is the instrumentation of the full ceremonial band?
Piccolo, oboe, bassoon, cl 1 2 3, alto sax 1 2, tenor sax, trumpet 1 2 3, horn 1 2, trombone 1 2 3, euphonium, sousaphone, snare, bass drum, cymbals (22)
What is a minimum ceremonial band?
14 members: piccolo, cl 1 2, alto sax, trumpet 1 2 3, trombone 1 2, euphonium, sousaphone, snare, bass drum, cymbals
Which section should arranging begin with?
Brass
Which instrument is the principal passer of the brass family?
First trumpet
How are second and third trumpet scored?
Filling in the remaining chord sounds, voices in closed position. Thirds and sixths work well. Often double horn parts
What is the horn’s function in a ceremonial band?
Moving accompaniment. Must be identical or compliment the 2nd and 3rd trumpets if they have an independent musical line
How should the horn section be scored?
1 and 2 get most important pitches; usually includes the third in one of the voices
Which instrument is used to create the marcato style of the ceremonial band and why?
Trombone due to directional bell
How is euphonium best employed?
Perform countermelodies, perform melody lines and solos, harmonic support within the lower brass
What is the tuba’s primary function in a ceremonial band?
Perform chord tones, especially the root. On the march, tuba performs same rhythmic line as bass drum
Where does the woodwind family project better?
When scored an octave above the brass
What is the use of piccolo in the ceremonial band?
Double melody line and perform sweeping passages and trills
What range of the clarinet accompanies first trumpet melody lines and leads arpeggiated movement and obbligato lines
Sounding B4-C6
Which range on the clarinet are the throat tones
F4-Bb4 written
Which instrument is the principal voice of the woodwind section?
First clarinet. Usually performs melody when trumpet is not
How are second and third clarinets scored?
Fill out the remaining chord sound. Voiced in closed position. Frequently double 2nd and 3rd trumpet, or horns
Which instrument is the link between the woodwind and brass sections?
Saxophones
In four-part harmony, which part should go to the first alto sax?
Alto line, or double the 2nd trumpet
Where is second alto saxophone scored?
Usually a third below the first alto or doubling the third trumpet
What are some scoring options for saxophones?
Alto 1 doubles Clarinet 2 and alto 2 doubles clarinet 3; 1 and 2 altos double 1 and 2 horns; 1 and 2 altos double 1 and 2 trombones; voiced under the euphonium during countermelodies
What is a good doubling for tenor sax?
With euphonium
What does the snare drum promote?
Accents, crescendos, decrescendos
In what instances should bass drum and cymbals always play together?
Full ensemble accents; on the boat accents for wind entrances off the beat; special cues given by the conductor
True or false: in inverted chords, the root must be imagined as the bass note to ensure lower interval limits have not been exceeded
True
What are the mechanical voicings?
Four-way close, drop-2, drop-3, drop 2+4
What is four-way close?
Writing the harmony below the melody without skipping any chord tones
What is drop-2, drop-3, drop-2+4?
Beginning in four-way close, the second voice is dropped by an octave; third voice is dropped an octave; second and fourth voices are both dropped an octave
What is concerted writing?
Technique where the musical passage is voiced and rhythms are identical. Begins with brass section
What are the four steps in concerted writing?
Use a melody or lead line with chord changes and establish this as your lead trumpet part; voice the brass section; develop the lead alto sax by coupling the second trumpet; voice the saxophone section
How should the brass section be voiced in concerted writing?
Choose a mechanical voicing technique, ensure all harmonic notes are present, be aware of practical range, avoid intervals of a second between top two lines
How should the saxophone section be voiced in concerted writing?
From lead alto, voice remaining parts with a mechanical technique, be aware of ranges and lower interval limits
What are some non-mechanical voicings?
Spread, fourths, seconds, and upper-structure triads
How are spread voicings built?
Bottom up, beginning with the root, usually resulting in an open position structure. Particularly effective as sustained pads supporting a melody or solo line
Where should chord tones 1, 3, 5, 6, or 7 be placed?
Lower in the spread structure
True or false: a non-fourth interval can be included in voicing of fourths
True. The predominant interval is a fourth, but it doesn’t have to be the only
What is an upper-structure triad?
Voicing where all the notes of the chord are present, and the top three pitches are in a close position triad. Usually contain at least one available tension in the voicing
What are guide tones?
3rds and 7ths of their respective chords; musician voice leads smoothly from one guide tone to the next
What are some basic characteristics of a shout chorus:
Percussive lead lines; repeating riffs; lead trumpet in the upper register; louder dynamics; reharmonizing melody or developing melody; call and response; concerted writing; special effects such as shakes, falls, and doits; harmonically dense voicings; open position voicings spread over multiple octaves
What are two examples of good shout choruses?
Splanky-Count Basie Orchestra-Complete Atomic Basie; Stompin at the Savoy-Stan Kenton Orchestra-Stompin at the Newport
What is the most common section featured in soli writing in the big band?
Saxophones
What is the most common texture used in soli writing?
Concerted
What are the functions of the woodwind section?
Melodic lines and solos; difficult technical passages; harmonic background; reinforcing other instruments throughout the ensemble; counter melodies; contrasting colors and textures
What does oboe blend well with?
Flute, clarinet, muted trumpet
What does bassoon blend well with?
Tenor saxophone or any member of the low brass
What is the clarinet used for?
Solos, melodic lines, sweeping passages; mixes well with all woodwind and brass
What is a timbre combination for tenor sax?
Trombone or euphonium
What are likely doublings for the baritone sax?
Bass clarinet and bassoon
What is homophonic writing?
Characterized by moving accompaniment parts in the same rhythm as the melody: superimposed, interlocked, enclosed, overlapped
What are some common uses of the brass section?
Emphasize accented figures; present the melody; build and create climactic points; accentuate crescendos and dynamics; act as a homophonic unit (or in combination with the woodwind section)
