Forum: Composer/Composition

Hello there, I’m trying to add some contrapuntal/counterpoint elements in my arrangements. I write a guide-tone line and I utilize it as a baseline. Could you give me some suggestions or example? In the meantime I’m listening Gerry Mulligan’s arrangements……. Thanx

Ok so this year (actually a few days ago) I decided to write out a pep band arrangement for Distrubia. Can some of you guys take a look and give some feedback? http://www.noteflight.com/scores/view/a62b2b27dd6ebcecd1eb94af238526ceb8a35b31 Thanks Andrew Oh and by the way, there are random...

I have some compositions that I would like to publish. Are there any publishers that accept works from non-established, younger composers. Or is it unrealistic to ask someone to publish a work by a 16 year old? Either way. Anyone with experiance? Tom

We've lost our trumpet player and gained a trumpet player and trombonist, so I'm faced with the task of re-arranging my bands ternor sax and trumpet parts into parts for tenor sax, trumpet and trombone. The main thing I'm struggling with is which way round to put the trombone and tenor sax. I'm...

I've gotten back into listening to Coltrane for the first time in a while, and the tune Equinox came up in my queue. I love this tune and John's solo, but I find myself as a musician confused by the latin intro to the song. It has little to do with the feel of the ENTIRE rest of the track, and I...

This comes out of an excellent essay on comping that Strayhorn (the SoTW version, not the one that played with Ellington) posted in the discussion about directing rhythm players. In it he mentioned using "hip" chords and chord voicing. Since piano and keys are my primary performing...

Right now I'm listening to Eric Alexander's "Nightlife in Tokyo" CD and I'm blown away by his tone and phrasing. In particular I've just realized how the first track, a minor blues titled NEMESIS, would a great tune to learn the solo from and practice. Does anyone know if this has already been...

i wonder what you guys felt the first time you composed something. yesterday i had a wonderful call and response idea to reflect a story and the feeling of knowing that i could write at least a sax solo or duet with this idea was kind of overwhelming and i got a small rush out of it.

anybody have sheet music for crazy train email to middlewalters @gmail.com

Hi When preparing a concert band conductor's score featuring a sax soloist, would the solo sax part be positioned at the top of the score above the piccolo, or would it be positioned above the alto saxes in the band? Is there a convention or rule? Ta, michaelangelo

I've been earning my living as a songwriter since the early 1980's published by major music Publishers without break and just about to renew my contract with my current Publisher. I work and have worked with many well known singers who for convenience sake are always referred to in the business as...

What are you guys thinking of, melodically, when improvising over the D7#9, Eb7#9 section of All Blues? Any thoughts on what Miles, Coltrane and Cannonball played in that section of the song in KIND OF BLUE?

I'm looking for a "how to" resource that elucidates methods for creating good sounding harmonies to play along with the melody lines of lead sheets. Nothing fancy required, just some KISS rules / guidelines that really work. The context here is a jazz ensemble with two or three "horns" plus rhythm...

Hello all, Im trying to figure out a solo for a few songs, im not playing too long but have a good idea of scales. the problem is i always seem to get stuck in high notes and ignore the low notes finding it hard to get back down without it sounding terrible, Anyone know some good solo's...

The axis of awesome shows how to write a successful pop song. All you need is the Right Four Chords: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pidokakU4I&feature=player_embedded

When I began to learn Jazz/ Jazz composition, I started by playing bebop and writing 12 bars blues with blues notes. However, I never get the trick to write cool Jazz. So my questions are: Are there any recommended readings/ listenings that people can suggest? How do you learn writing/...

Hey guys, I was wondering if anyone knows of any good flute and sax duets for a Senior recital. My girlfriend is a flute player and on my senior recital this semester we are performing Epitaphe for Jean Harlow. I'm playing it on bari, but next year I know her professor will want me to play...

For you composers/arrangers/rearrangers out there in SoTW land, this is a question that I've mused about for a bit now and I throw it out to the SoTW community at large for your explanations. I'm talking strictly instrumental tunes of any genre and any mix of instruments. It's fairly easy to...

Hello. I was wondering if I could tap some saxophonist brains on this great forum or maybe even tax some saxophonist brains because I can't see an easy answer to my question. I'm currently in the process of finalising a composition for Alto Saxophone and Piano in D flat which I have named...

Can anyone tell me where I can buy or rent the score and Parts to "Tribute to Rudy Wiedoeft?" Arr. by Gunther Schuller? Thanks, Charlie

For each of the major scales the is the Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeilian, and Locrian. Does anyone have a know of a link where I can get the above for each coresponding scale. Example for the C major you have the D minor Dorian, Etc.. THXXXXXXXXX

I was wondering if any of you guys/gals have any suggestions on how to improve this song in any way shape or form. Anything would help! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0qPeOJ7-lE

So, first off, i am in a highschool music class, and this is the first year that we are going to have to do a term paper. It is due monday (i thought it wasn't due for another week after that, so you hopefully you can understand my franticism.) So I had to take one of the 7 concepts that we...

Hi, I am a music student and I am now doing the Concerto for Alto Saxophone by Jascha Gurewich. I need to do some research about him but the only thing I can find is his name appear on the saxophone historical timeline and a photo he took with a sax quartet. Is anyone know where I can find more...

I wanted to arrange a stand tune but I can't if I don't know how to transpose some keys. I know the keys of Bb, Eb, C, but not F. So how do you transpose F, I could read bass cleft just to add something.

I play in a startup salsa band that doesn't have a full-time trombone yet, so I end up reading those parts a lot. I came to know that I suck at reading bass clef. Is there any trick to transposing this, by way of reading it as trebel clef?

Hey, first of all, i will introduce myself. I am Emm, I play a yamaha Bari (rented from school), along with piano. I am a junior in highschool, last year i took 4 hours of music a day, this year, only 2. Im not the best, but im not the worst. anyways :) I am contemplating auditioning for WIBC in...

I'm in progress of arranging the original "Pokemon" TV theme for a concert/marching/pep band. This is my 2nd arrangement, and so far, it's coming out much better, mainly because I have a much better understanding of the range of each instrument. Also, this one is not in cut time, and it is in the...

I would like some input on my first attempt to arrange a contemporary song for a Woodwind choir. My hope is that a group of kids might use this at the school’s Solo and Ensemble tryouts. And what I really need is some input from educators that have been involved with these tryouts to tell me...

Hi, I was just wondering if anybody could help me with finding information on the composer Pierre Max Dubois? and if possible any help with his pieces "Pieces Caracteristiques en forme de suite"? for Alto Saxophone and Piano. I need help with some research for i have been unsuccessful. So if...

Hi, My band recently took part in the National Music for Youth Competition here in the UK, and we played an arrangement of 4 and our own composition. Could you kindly listen to our composition and give me some tips please. Thanks John http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdT-8oJICwk

Hi one and all. I'd really appreciate so help and advise from anyone with any experience in this area. I've been asked to do some arranging for a female vocal trio (jazz and jazz influenced material). I haven't confirmed the project yet as i wanted to get some info first of all. firstly, is...

Hello there, I need to arrange jazz standard for a combo with three horns (trumpet, alto sax and tenor sax). Could you tell me any suggestion regarding it? Thanks a lot Mioma

The great American composer Elliott Carter turned 100 last Thursday. He is a huge influence for me and some of my most riveting live performance experiences have come while his works were being performed. Of particular note was the evening in May, 2004 when the phenomenal French pianist,...

I really want to work on being able to transpose. first off are there any books anyone might suggest to help teach me how? Two, when you transpose do you generaly think about each note that you play or do you just do it without thinking? -Thanks

Does anyone know him here? Since he's like a sax player and a composer living in Texas, just wondering if he's a lot more famous than I think because I met him this year and he used to be the head band director of my middle school, and man was he full of energy. Its this guy if you get confused...

As some remember, I play in a gipsy band with 2 violins, flutes, clarinets, accordeons, alt saxes, tenor saxes, trumpets and trombones, one euphonium and a sousaphone. I was doodling around a bit and our chief challenged me in making it a song for us. So there I went. I finished two now, one own...

Hey! I am transcribing the chords for Moose the Mooche into another key, and right now i am stuck with a chord. C#, and then a little circle, 7. I can't figure out what the little circle does, and i can't seem to find anything on the web. Can anobody tell me? Best regards David

Distances Within Me, Lennon Has anyone played or heard of this piece? I think it might be fairly obscure but I was curious as to its validity in the classical saxophone scene.

Recently a "composition contest" was seen on this page. there was never any information on who sponsored, who would judge, etc. Just a request to send in music that nobody else would hear. Well, can't see any reason why this forum can't ask for compositions and let our members listen and then...

I play baritone tc and would like to know how to transpose bc to tc and vice-versa... also from BBb tuba to baritone bc... i looked over the bass clef... and correct if im wrong but from baritone bc to tc i have to go up a major 3rd... to play tuba music on bari. bc i have to go up an octive......

with a forum and free lessons :) http://www.northernsounds.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=107

(I posted this on the WW Forum, but thought the subject would be of interest here too.) I've done quite a number of big band transcriptions over the years, and every time I do, I learn something new. One of the things that is most evident to me lately is how the harmonic language of the 20's...

I always like to communicate with other musicians by using scale degrees ( 5th, b3rd, 6th, etc.). Now I can understand going outside of 1-8 to accomodate the 9th, as there are "add 9" chords, but what is the purpose of stating the 11, 12, and 13? Isn't it much easier just to say 4, 5, or 6? Now...

hey chaps... I'm keen to start composing but I have a problem... I'm pretty good at coming up with melodies and structures but I really have a hard time putting appropriate chords and especially appropriate extensions to my melodies... anyone got some advice for me? :)