Klarinet Archive - Posting 000497.txt from 1997/05

From: "Frederick S. Sterns" <fssterns@-----.net>
Subj: Re: Scales/Slonimsky [was College Auditions]
Date: Sun, 18 May 1997 12:27:56 -0400

You're right in one sense...but at this stage in his development Coltrane
was squeezing everything he could out of the scales for each change. He
would utilize just about any mathematical pattern the mind could conceive
of and, of course, had the ability to play them all at speed of light.

His solo on "Giant Steps" is a classic all tenor players try to emulate.

There are a number of jazz "standards" [especially some bebop tunes] whose
harmonies move as quickly as the changes in "Giant Steps." It's good
practice...for example, with the changes below 1-3-5-6 for each of the two
beat chords and 1-3-5-6-7-5-3-2 for the four count chords...at MM 160...to
start! :-)

>"Too many notes!", said the Emperor, "just cut a few".(to WAM, in "Amadeus")
>
>>Yes and no...the harmony certainly moves quickly! It's essentially a cycle
>>of II-V-Is moving through major thirds. Here are the changes in alto [Eb]
>>key:
>>
>>|| G# / B7 / | E / G7 / | C / / / | F#-7 / B7 / | E / G7 / | C / D#7 /
>>| G# / / / | D-7 / G7 / |
>>| C / / / | F#-7 / B7 / | E / / / | A#-7 / D#7 / | G# / / / | D-7 /
>>G7 / | C / / / | F#-7 / D#7 / ||
>>
>>I can't figure out how to write the melody line with ASCII script
>>though...:-) Fred S.
>>
>>
>>>Yes Coltrane worked on TSMP plenty-he was a scale nut. "Giant
>>>Steps" changes chords every 2 beats I'm told.
>>>
>>>----------
>>>> From: Gary Young <gyoung@-----.com>
>>>> To: klarinet@-----.us
>>>> Subject: RE: Scales/Slonimsky [was College Auditions]
>>>> Date: Saturday, May 10, 1997 11:38 AM
>>>>
>>>> To accelerate this topic considerably, check out "Thesaurus of Scales
>and
>>>
>>>> Melodic Patterns," by the remarkable Nicolas Slonimsky (may he rest in
>>>> peace). It used to cost an arm and a leg, but now is $29.95 from Amsco
>>>> Publications. It's full of Slonimsky's wit, vocabulary and analytical
>>>> acumen. It contains material for some interesting and quirky exercises
>>>> (but I doubt you'll get asked about inter-infra-ultrapolation in your
>>>> audition for conservatory). I recall hearing somewhere that John
>>>Coltrane
>>>> had a copy and was working on it at the end of his life.
>>>>
>>>> Gary Young
>>>> Madison, WI
>>>>
>>>> ----------
>>>> From: Christopher Thibeault[SMTP:lespaul@-----.com]
>>>> Sent: Friday, May 09, 1997 5:50 PM
>>>> To: klarinet@-----.us
>>>> Subject: Re: College Auditions
>>>>
>>>> ...There are 5 minor scales (not counting pentatonics, etc.)
>>>>
>>>> 1)Natural Minor (diatonic relative major starting on 6th degree of
>scale)
>>>> 2)Harmonic Minor (raise 7th)
>>>> 3)Melodic Minor (raise 6+7 going up, diatonic upon return)
>>>> 4)Real Melodic Minor (raise 6th + 7th always)
>>>> 5)Hungarian Minor (Raise 4th + 7th)
>>>>
>>>> -Christopher J. Thibeault
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>
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