Charlie Parker

Question 1

Melody

Answer 1

Composed melodies - fast scales and arpeggio figures, with chord extensions and alterations, motifs and sequences - “Ornithology”
Similar improvised melodies with more complex chromaticism and less regular phrasing - alto sax solo in “Ornithology”

Question 2

Melody - ornamentation

Answer 2

Glissandos - “Anthropology”
Pitch bending - “Confirmation”
Spills/fall-offs - “Parker’s Mood”

Question 3

Harmony

Answer 3

Based on pre-existing chord changes from popular songs - elaborated with extensions and chromatic alterations “Ornithology”
often chord extensions within harmonies “O” alto sax solo
chord substitutions common including 2ndary dominants (“Blues for Alice”) and tritone subs (“A Night in Tunisia”)

Question 4

Tonality

Answer 4

functional harmony - some chromaticism and rapid modulations connecting to tonic
chromatic pitches often in diatonic scales (“O”)
blues notes - “Now’s the time”
pentatonic scales - “Anthropology”
blues scales - “Parker’s Mood”
some complex scales inc. diminished scale - “NTT”

Question 5

structure

Answer 5

head-solo-head usually
fours often at end of performance
“A” typical Bebop form
standard song form common inc. rhythm changes - eg “A”
12 bar blues common, often heavily modified “Blues for Alice”
also - AA (“O”), ABAC (“Donna Lee”) and AABAC (“A Night in Tunisia”)
intros and outros - “All the things you are”
Breaks at start of solo “ANIT”

Question 6

sonority

Answer 6

smaller bands
rhythm section of piano, bass, drums, sometimes guitar, various horns
string orchestra on Charlie Parker with Strings
Special effects - growling on sax “BFA”, drums with brushes “Parker’s Mood”, brass with mutes “Ko-Ko”

Question 7

texture

Answer 7

melody and accompaniment “Scrapple from the Apple” alto sax solo
Bass is usually walking bass line
Pianist “comps” and drummer gives rhythmic pulse with accents
Head melodies often in unison by horns “Ko-Ko”
Horns occasionally support riffs - “ANIT”
Rhythm solos reduce textures “Wee” drum solo and “Hot House” bass solo

Question 8

tempo, metre and rhythm

Answer 8

very fast tempos - “KoKo” and “A”
some Bebop ballads - “Parkers Mood”
less swing feel because of fast tempos
straight quavers in Latin style piece “ANIT”
Diverse use of rhythm for ensemble
Double time common - “Parker’s mood” drums & “Confirmation” alt sax
Push rhythms “ANIT”

Question 9

Anthropology

Answer 9

mel - use of ornamentation glissandos
ton - pentatonic scales
str - bebop form, standard form including pieces with rhythmic changes
TMR - extremely fast tempo

Question 10

A Night in Tunisia

Answer 10

Har - chord substitutions inc 2ndary dominance and tritone subs
str - AABAC form, breaks used at start of solo
tex - horns play supporting riffs
TMR - straight quavers, Latin influence, push rhythms in head

Question 11

Orthinology

Answer 11

mel - fast scales and arpeggios with chord extensions, alterations, motifs, sequences
har - pre existing chord changes from previous songs with chromatic alterations
ton - chromatic pitches added to diatonic scales