Section 2 (Arranging) - Writing for Small and Large Ensemble

Question 1

unison/octave lower interval limit

Answer 1

none

Question 2

Minor 2nd major 2nd LIL

Answer 2

m2 F3-E3

M2 F3-Eb3

Question 3

Minor 7th and Major 7th LIL

Answer 3

inverted m2 and M2

m7 Eb3-F2
M7 E3- F2

Question 4

minor 9th and Major 9th LIL

Answer 4

Same as M2 and m2 but compounded

m9 F3-E2
M9 F3-Eb2

Question 5

Minor 3rd and Major 3rd LIL

Answer 5

m3 Eb3-C2

M3 D3-Bb2

Question 6

Minor 6th and Major 6th LIL

Answer 6

m6 Eb3-G2

M6 D3-F2

Question 7

similarities between m3 and M3 and m6 and M6

Answer 7

m3 and m6 top note is Eb

M3 and M6 top note is D

Question 8

what is similar between the P4 Aug4 and Dim4

Answer 8

bottom note is Bb2

Question 9

perfect 4th LIL

Answer 9

P4 Eb3-Bb2

Question 10

Aug4th LIL

Answer 10

Aug4 E3-Bb2

Question 11

Dim5th LIL

Answer 11

Dim5th Fb3-Bb2

Question 12

the 5th LIL

Answer 12

5th much lower

F2-Bb1

Question 13

diminished 7th LIL

Answer 13

same top note as m7th and bottom note is half step up

Eb3-F#2

Question 14

how do you verify that you haven’t surpassed the LIL of inverted chords

Answer 14

imagine the root of the chord as the bass note

Question 15

assumed bass can tell you what

Answer 15

if youve surpassed lower interval limits

Question 16

what are mechanical voicings

Answer 16

when an arranger begins with the four part harmonic structure and then redistributes those notes to a predetermined group of instruments

Question 17

what is the one closed position voicing method

Answer 17

four way close

Question 18

what are the three semi open voicing methods

Answer 18

drop 2
drop 3
drop 4

Question 19

what is four way close

Answer 19

when the harmonic structure is written beneath the melody or lead line without skipping any chord tones

Question 20

what is drop 2

Answer 20

starting in the 4 way close position and dropping the second voice by one octave.
The other notes remain in the same position

Question 21

what effect does drop 2 have

Answer 21

it creates space between the soprano and alto thus placing the harmonic structure in a semi open position

Question 22

what is drop 3

Answer 22

starting in the 4 way close position and dropping the third voice by one octave.
the other notes remain in the same position

Question 23

what is drop 2+4

Answer 23

starting in the 4 way close position and dropping the second and fourth voices by one octave.
the other notes remain in the same position

Question 24

what is concerted writing

Answer 24

when the musical passage is voiced and the rhythms are identical

Question 25

what is coupling

Answer 25

writing parts by using supportive unison and octave lines

Question 26

what is the 1st step for concerted writing?

Answer 26

use a melody or lead line with chord changes and establish that as your lead trumpet part

Question 27

what is step two for concerted writing

Answer 27

voice the brass section

Question 28

what are the 4 steps for voicing the brass section

Answer 28

1. choose one of the mechanical voicing technique 2. ensure all notes of the harmonic structure are present 3. be aware of the practical range of instruments and ability of performers 4. avoid intervals of a second between the top two lines in order to not interfere with the lead voice

Question 29

what is the 3rd step for concerted writing

Answer 29

develop the lead alto sax by coupling the second trumpet

Question 30

step 4 of concerted writing

Answer 30

voice the saxophone section

Question 31

3 parts of voicing the saxophone sections

Answer 31

1. from the lead alto voice the remaining voices by using one of the mechanical voicing techniques 2. be aware instrument ranges and low interval limits 3. be aware of the practical range of the instruments and the ability of performers

Question 32

how is a non mechanical voice different from a mechanical voicing

Answer 32

they include spread voicings, voicing in fourth, seconds, and upper interval structures.

Question 33

how are spread voicings built

Answer 33

from the bottom up beginning with the root, in an open position structure

Question 34

what are spread voices good for

Answer 34

sustained pads supporting the melody or solo line

Question 35

how does the number of pitches effect spread voices

Answer 35

the voicing will become increasingly dense as more different pitches are added

Question 36

how does the spacing effect spread voices

Answer 36

larger intervals create a more open sound; smaller intervals will produce the opposite

Question 37

how do dissonant intervals and tensions effect spread voices

Answer 37

the greater number of dissonant intervals added to a spread voicing will yield a more tense sound

Question 38

how does doubling effect spread voices

Answer 38

will yield a strong and full sound

Question 39

how does the distance from the top and bottom pitches effect spread voices

Answer 39

greater intervallic distance between notes increases the opportunity to use doublings

Question 40

how does the orchestration effect spread voices

Answer 40

instrument timbre will impact the overall sound of the spread

Question 41

how does the voicing effect spread voices

Answer 41

whenever possible, voice the chord tones 1, 3, 5, 6 or 7 low in the spread structure

Question 42

what does it mean to voice in fourths

Answer 42

the predominant interval between each adjacent note in the stack will be a fourth

Question 43

what do voices in fourths sound like

Answer 43

strong resonant and slightly dissonant effect | modern sound

Question 44

what are the exceptions to voicing in fourths

Answer 44

a non fourth interval can be included | this is done so chord tones are present in the structure to ensure the basic sound of the chord is present

Question 45

what can be added to voicing in 4ths to add dissonance

Answer 45

an augmented fourth | creates a major 7th in the chord

Question 46

what is voicing in seconds also known as

Answer 46

cluster

Question 47

what does voicing in seconds sound like

Answer 47

very dissonant and dense

Question 48

can other intervals be included in voicing seconds and why

Answer 48

yes to decrease the density and dissonance

Question 49

what is an upper structure triad

Answer 49

a voicing where all of the notes of the chord are represented but the top three pitches are a closed position triad

Question 50

how many tensions do upper structure triads typically contain

Answer 50

at least 1

Question 51

what do upper structure triads sound like

Answer 51

powerful and an effective way to write a strong sound with great resonance

Question 52

what do backgrounds do

Answer 52

keep arrangements interesting and provide harmonic and rhythmic support

Question 53

what is effective for writing backgrounds

Answer 53

call and answer

Question 54

what are backgrounds often based off of

Answer 54

use guide tones (3rds and 7ths)

Question 55

what is alternative to just guide tone based backgrounds

Answer 55

chord tones and tension backgrounds. | moving through chord tones and available tensions

Question 56

what is the 3rd version of writing backgrounds

Answer 56

using a motif | by taking a thematic figure from the piece to develop a background

Question 57

what is a shout chorus

Answer 57

a climactic section of an arrangement

Question 58

where is the shout chorus often placed

Answer 58

end of the piece before the final recap of the main theme

Question 59

what are 10 characteristics of a shout chorus

Answer 59

1. percussive lead lines 2. repeating riffs 3. lead trumpet in the upper register 4. louder dynamics 5. reharmonizing the melody 6. call and response between sections 7. concerted writing (all under lead trumpet) 8. special effects such as shakes, falls, and doit 9. harmonically dense voicings 10. open position voicings spread over multiple octaves

Question 60

what are the two recommended listening's for shout chorus

Answer 60

1. splanky - count basie orchestra - complete atomic basie | 2. stompin at the savoy - stan kenton orchestra - stompin at newport

Question 61

what do solis do

Answer 61

provide a nice contrast in flow within a composition

Question 62

whats the most common texture in writing solis

Answer 62

concerted writing