Gwilym Simcock

Question 1

melody

Answer 1

composed melodies: lyrical & conjunct “Affinity”
or angular & disjunct “interlude #1”
improvised solos often with sequences/motif development “The way you look tonight”
occasional ornamentation - pitch bending on guitar in “Sneaky”

Question 2

harmony

Answer 2

complex harmonies - lots of extensions showing contemporary classical influence
loose relationship between chords
simpler harmonies eg sus4s
“Affinity” is typical use of harmonies

Question 3

tonality

Answer 3

diatonic structures, quick move between tonalities “Affinity”
use mixolydian “Sneaky” and “these are the good days”
use phrygian “Mezzotint”
Blue notes “Sneaky”
Pentatonic scales “These are the good days”
Blues scale “Blues Vignette”
chromaticism almost atonal “interlude#2”

Question 4

structure

Answer 4

head solo head form “A Typical Affair” with added intro/outro
some additional composed sections to divide solos “Sneaky”
larger works have multiple movements and free structures “Move/Suite”

Question 5

sonority

Answer 5

small groups feature piano trio “the way you look tonight” & “The First Circle”
added by horns, guitar and other “Sneaky” and “Affinity”
solo piano “These are the good days” and “interlude #1”
piano/double bass duets “pastoral”
Classical instrumentation inc chamber ensembles “suite for cello and piano” and chamber orchestra “move/suite” with jazz rhythm section and Solo on piano
Timbral effects - distortion (guitar “Sneaky”), mutes (trumpets “Clunky”), brushes on drums “Columns”, Extended piano techniques “Interlude #2”

Question 6

texture

Answer 6

usually smaller group with typical melody and accompaniment textures “a Typical affair”
melodies often doubled or harmonised “Sneaky”
countermelodies creates polyphony “Affinity”, “Clunky”
riffs/ostinatos “Sneaky”, “Clunky”

Question 7

tempo, metre, rhythm

Answer 7

often highly rhythmic
straight and swing rhythms used freely eg
“the way you look tonight”
tempo changes “Blues vignette”
rubato “mezzotint”
additive metre and time signature changes “Sneaky” and “The First Circle”
five over seven cross rhythm “the way you look tonight”

Question 8

Affinity

Answer 8

mel - lyric/conjunct melodies
har - sus4s, simpler harmonies, loose relationship between chords
ton - diatonic structures moving quickly between tonalities
son - piano trio with horns, guitar and more
tex - countermelodies to create polyphony

Question 9

sneaky

Answer 9

mel - ornamentation - pitch bending by guitarist
ton - modes Mixolydian and blues notes
str - additional composed sections to divide solos
son - piano trio with horns guitar and more and special timbral effects like distortion
tex - melodies doubled or harmonised, riffs and ostinatos