Chapter 7 What You Will Learn Identify the musical elements composers use to create Describe the distinction between composers and arrangers Explain the musical form of theme and variations List the responsibilities of the conductor ID: 1018095
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1. Making Musical DecisionsChapter 7
2. What You Will LearnIdentify the musical elements composers use to createDescribe the distinction between composers and arrangersExplain the musical form of theme and variationsList the responsibilities of the conductor
3. TermsMinor scaleSymphony“felt” timeArrangerTranscriptionsTheme and variationsHarmonyPrimary chordsConductorRubato
4. Musician ProfilesBright ShengMarin Alsop
5. Music Compositions: Integrating Musical ElementsComposing music involves making decisionsDecisions involve the base building blocks of musicFormStructure and design of a compositionMelodyIntentionally organized succession of musical tonesTimbreDistinct tonal qualityRhythm Combinations of long and short sounds
6. Musical decisions about formForm:The structure and design of a composition, incorporating repetition, contrast, unity, and varietyIt gives shape and direction12 bar blues – three lines of lyrics in AAB formActivity 1, p. 147 CD 4:35“Rock Around the Clock” Bill Haley and His Comets
7. Musicals decisions about melodyMelodies may be flowing or angular, narrow or wide, short or longMelodies are almost always built on a musical scaleMinor scale:A sequence of eight pitches built on the pattern of one whole step, one half step, two whole steps, one half step, and two whole stepsSinging a major scale from LA to LA instead of DO to DO gives the relative minor scale
8. Activity 2, p. 148 CD 5:1Symphony No. 1 in D Minor by Gustav MahlerUsed the tune Frere Jacques in the third movementSymphony:An extended work for orchestra with several contrasting movements
9. Activity 3 p. 149 CD 5:2 TRB 7-3“I Got It Bad and That Ain’t Good” by Duke Ellington sung by Sarah VaughanOctave displacement: Melodic intervals that jump up or down from the original octaveHow would you describe the emotional affect of accentuating the words “treats me” in this way?What does this do to accentuate the words “treats me”?
10. Musical decisions about timbreComposers choose from a palette of colors(tone color) or timbreSome composers use conventional instruments in unconventional waysTuned differentlyPlayed differentlyManipulated soundUsing timbres from non-Western culturesSome composers use unconventional instruments – found instruments
11. Bright Sheng (b. 1955)Born in Shanghai, ChinaSutdied pianoWas discovered by Chairman Mao’s wife and allowed to continue studyingMoved to New York and studied with Leonard BernsteinIn 2001 he won the MacArthur foundation Fellowship(genius grant)Under the grant he composed his opera Madame Mao – the story of Chairman Mao’s wife, who was one of the leaders of China’s cultural revolution
12. Activity 4, p. 150 CD 5:3Tibetan Dance by Bright ShengYou’ll hear the pipa (Chinese lute) and the celloHow does the pipa give the piece a dance like feeling?Beyond the timbre itself, can you identify any musical elements that sound unusual to your ears?
13. Activity 5 p. 151Compose a rhythm scoreSelect 4 different timbres from rhythm instrumentsCompose a short 8 bar piece that you can play with several classmatesAs you create, answer these questionsHow will you provide musical unity and variety?Make a list of all the musical decisions you must make.
14. Musical decisions about rhythmFelt time:An aspect of music that controls the listener’s sense of how much time has passedActivity 6, p. 152 CD 5:4-5Adagio for Strings“Badinerie” from Orchestral Suite No. 2Which words characterize both selections?Which piece of music feels longer? Why?
15. AssignmentChoose one of the musical elements: form, melody, timbre, or rhythmCreate a list of decisions that composers have to make about the assigned musical element.
16. The decision making skills of the arrangerComposers arrange all the elements of music when creating a workArranger:A musician who reworks existing musical materialAdapts a composition written for one performing medium to anotherRecomposes a work to suit different circumstances
17. Arranging jazz instrumentalsJazz songs written to be sung with lyrics are commonly arranged as purely instrumental tunesSometimes the lyrics are dropped and the part is assigned to an instrumentArrangers make artistic choices and can be just as creative as composers
18. Activity 8, p. 153 CD 5:6-8“What’s New” by Johnny Burke and Bob Haggart in 1939Compare the role of the voice in the Benny Goodman version with that in the arrangement sung by Billie HolidayGoodman – the voice is secondary to the clarinet and instrumental improvisationsHoliday – the voice is the primary focal pointEven when there is no singer, as heard in the version performed by J.J. Johnson, can you match the lyrics with the melody?How did each of the arrangers differ in their approach to the pieceGoodman- it’s for big band with vocalist, featured clarinet slowerJohnson – slower and sadder, arranged for 4-piece comboHoliday – voice and story are primary with small comboWere they equally effective in expressing the mood?Which arrangement do you like better? Why?
19. Activity 9, p. 154 CD 5:9“Sing, Sing, Sing” by Benny GoodmanArranged by William T. McDaniel Jr.Have you heard this piece before, played in a different arrangement?Do you recognize the main melody that begins right after the introduction?In what order did McDaniel choose to have each group of instruments enter the arrangement?The instruments enter from low to high, brass and percussion only: drums, then sousaphones, baritones, and trombones, and last, flugelhorns, and trumpetsThe long drum solo was originally played by one person on a trap set. Estimate how many marching band percussionists perform the solo in this arrangement?24 total – 12 snare, 4 bass, 4 cymbals, 4 quad tomsWhat is the overall purpose of this musical arrangement?
20. Transcribing musicThe artistic involvement of the arranger can varyThe exact notes of the composer are rescored for any combination of instruments or voicesTranscriptions:Arrangements of music transferred from medium to another
21. Activity 10, p. 155 CD 5:10-11Toccata, Adagio, and Fugue in C Major by J.S. Bach for organBand arrangement by John P. PaynterHow does the arrangement for band differ from the organ originalThe band arrangement has more instrumental colors, a greater variety of timbresWhich do you think is musical more effective? Why?Is it likely that you would typically hear both the original and the transcription in the same setting? Why or why not?
22. Theme and VariationsComposers extend a musical idea through subtle and obvious changesSometimes it is hard to recognize the theme(melody)Composers present a theme in many waysThe theme can be original or borrowed
23. Theme and variationsA musical form in which a melodic idea is stated then varied in a succession of statementsThe theme can be Ornamented Tempo alteredHarmony changedTexture transformedNew rhythmPlayed backwards or upside downActivity 11, p. 157 CD 5:12“Johnny I Hardly Knew Ye” Activity 12, p. 157 CD 5:13 TRB 7-8American Salute by Morton Gould
24. Using harmony to create variationsHarmony:Vertical blocks of different tones that sound simultaneouslyPrimary chords:Harmony built on the first, fourth, and fifth degrees of the scaleThe root is the tone on which the chord is builtAll notes in the scale can be harmonized by one of these chordsMost song begin on the I chord or tonicThe V7 chord likes to move to the I chord
25. Converting the Classics for Popular AppealUsing an existing musical idea requires many informed musical decisionsLearning to hear a mix of stylesJohn Lewis (1920-2001), pianist and founder of the Modern Jazz QuartetMade an album called “One Diamond” showing subtle changes in styleHe transforms J.S. Bach’s Prelude No. 16 in G minor, from the 18th century into a contemporary jazz piece
26. Activity 13, p. 160 CD 5:14“One Diamond” by John LewisDescribe the two styles you heardHow did you know that a change in style had occurred?
27. Finding Inspiration in the ClassicsMany great composers use earlier works when writing later worksJ.S. Bach and George Frideric Handel Eric Carmen’s song, “All by Myself” uses the main theme of Sergi Rachmaninoff’s 1901 Second Concerto for Piano and Orchestra (opus 18)
28. Activity 14, p. 161 CD 5:15-16Compare Rachmanioff’s Piano Concert No. 2 with Eric Carmen’s “All By Myself,” performed in Spanish by Celine DionWhat orchestral instrument plays the main theme that Carmen borrowed?ClarinetWhy would the style of “romantic” music be appropriate for both piecesIn reference to these two pieces, how would you describe the way music is able to express and touch our feelings?Can it do so even if you don’t understand the lyrics in Spanish?Would you say the musical link between these pieces is close or remote? Why?
29. Musical Decisions in Performing for OthersConductor:The director of an orchestra, choir, or other performing groupThe roles and skills of a conductorMust know the music well enough to detect an error by a single musicianSelect the musicRehearse the musiciansMaintain the beatFacilitate the performers interpretation of the musicMake musical decisions regarding expressive mattersGive visual cues to the performersConduction requires technique and an excellent sense of rhythmThey indicate the beat and meter with specific conducting patternsActivity 15, p. 163 CD 5: 13 & 1
30. Playing with the tempoRubato:The free treatment of tempo within a musical phraseActivity 16, p. 164 CD 5:17“Blue Danube Waltz” by Johann Strauss II
31. Marin Alsop (b. 1956)Female conductorConducting has been dominated by menMarin Alsop helped to change thatBorn and raised in New York CityParents were professional musiciansMain instrument in violinWas inspired by Leonard BernsteinWon the Barrier Breaker Award
32. Activity 17, p. 165 CD 5:18“On the Waterfront” by Leonard BernsteinConducted by Marin AlsopWill your beat pattern be in three or four?Why does it seem difficult to find beat 1
33. Review - termsArrangerA musician who reworks existing musical materialConductorThe director of an orchestra, choir, or other performing group“felt”timeAn aspect of music that controls the listener’s sense of how much time has passedHarmonyVertical blocks of different tones that sound simultaneouslyMinor scaleA sequence of 8 pitches built on the pattern of one whole step, one half step, two whole steps, one half step and two whole steps
34. More termsPrimary chordsHarmonies built on the 1st, 4th, and 5th degrees of the scaleRubatoThe free treatment of tempo within a musical phraseSymphonyAn extended work for orchestra with several contrasting movementsTheme and variationsA musical form in which a melodic idea is stated then varied in a succession of statementsPrimary chordsIncorporate all seven tones of the scale
35. More termsTranscriptionsArrangements of music transferred from one medium to anotherPipaChinese luteRootThe tone on which a chord is builtOctave displacementsMelodic intervals that jump up or down from the original octaveSinging any major scale from LA to LA instead of DO to DO Relative minor scale
36. Who did what?Won the “Barrier Breaker Award”Marin AlsopComposed the “Blue Danube Waltz”Johann Strauss IITransformed an 18th century work into “One Diamond”John LewisUsed the pipa in classical compositions to bridge the gap between Western and Eastern culturesBright ShengWrote “I Got It Bad and That Ain’t Good”Duke Ellington
37. Who wrote what?Created an orchestration of the “Frere Jacques” themeGustav MahlerComposed Toccata, Adagio, and Fugue in C MajorJohann Sebastian BachPianist and founder of the Modern Jazz Quartet John LewisRecorded “I Got It Bad and That Ain’t Good”Sarah VaughnComposed Piano Concerto No. 2Sergi Rachmaninoff
38. Wrote “All By Myself” inspired by Rachmaninoff’s Piano concerto No. 2Eric CarmenWrote Sing, Sing, SingBenny GoodmanWrote “American Salute” for orchestra and transcribed it for bandMorton GouldComposed Adagio for StringsSamuel BarberOn what chord do most melodies begin and end?I chord
39. What are some ways a composer can change a theme into a variation?Change:The keyTempoRhythmMeterTextureTimbreMelodyHarmonyStyle
40. Explain the difference among composing, arranging, and transcribingComposingA composer creates a totally new pieceArrangingAn arranger manipulates notes, harmonies, rhythms, and other musical elements in a n existing compositionTranscribingA transcriber assigns the music to a different set of players or singers, changing the medium of the music, but not the arrangement of the material