Miles Davis

Question 1

Melody

Answer 1

early work like simple Bebop melodies
clear motif and sequence development eg “four”
later fusion melodies more improvisation “Its About That Time”
solos use space and motifs “So What”
Some ornamentation “Stela by Starlight”

Question 2

Harmony

Answer 2

similar to bebop in early work with less contrafacts
chord extensions in the melody “Tune Up”
static harmonies with few chords in modal jazz work “So What”
unusual harmonies in 1960’s “E.S.P”
Free harmonies during fusion era “Its About That Time”

Question 3

Tonality

Answer 3

similar to bebop
diatonic major and minor scales - "Miles Ahead"
Blue notes "Oleo"
Pentatonic scales "Vierd Blues"
Blues Scale "Pfrancing"
later work has modes inc Dorian - "So What" & "milestones"
Mixolydian - "in a silent way"
Phrygian - "Flamenco Sketches"
fusion work often atonal "Bitches Brew"

Question 4

Structure

Answer 4

early - typical forms; head-solo-head and standard form “So What”, 12 bar blues “Pfrancing”
intros and outros “So What”
common use of Fours “Billy Boy” and solo breaks “four”
complex forms in larger ensembles with Gil Evans “Boplicity”
Fusion work often edited eg “In a Silent Way” has ABA and repetition

Question 5

Sonority

Answer 5

clear trumpet tone without vibrato
Harmon mute often in ballads “My Funny Valentine”
Flugelhorn for Gil Evans big band “Miles Ahead”
Electronic effects on trumpet in fusion “Bitches Brew”
early work bebop combos (rhythm with horns) - all mostly acoustic
Nonet - “Move”
electronic instruments for fusion; guitar/bass, piano, organs, synthesisers “In a Silent Way”

Question 6

Sonority - playing techniques and effects

Answer 6

cross sticking - "Milestones"
slap bass - "What is it"
Ghosted notes - "Oleo" trumpet solo
Arco double bass "IASW"
distortion/wah wah  "right off" electric guitar

Question 7

Texture

Answer 7

early work similar to bebop "four"
melodies harmonised by horns "Milestones"
Riffs in accomp "So What"
Polyphony "Move"
Chaotic polyphony "Bitches Brew"

Question 8

Tempo, metre, rhythm

Answer 8

early work similar to Bebop use of rhythm
less focus on fast tempos
greater use of space
excelled at slow tempo ballads “My Funny Valentine”
Fusion have straight rhythms and rock/funk grooves “right Off”
Fusion sometimes ametrical “Bitches Brew”
Push/drag rhythms “Four”
Double time feel “My Funny Valentine”

Question 9

So What

Answer 9

mel - solos use space and motifs
har - static harmonies, few chords used in a modal work
ton - extensive use of modes, inc Dorian
str - intros and outros added to form
tex - riffs in accompaniment

Question 10

Bitches Brew

Answer 10

ton - fusion work with atonality
son - electronic effects on trumpet
tex - chaotic polyphony
TMR - sometimes ametrical

Question 11

Milestones

Answer 11

ton - extensive use of modes inc Dorian
son - cross sticking playing effect
tex - melody harmonised by the horns