Author: Steve Epstein
Date: 2001-07-24 18:44
I ran into a similar "problem" myself recently, needed to make an arrangement of "Kolomeike".
If the tune is in the Kammen books, you can buy a book for each instrument; i.e., not just one for Bb, one for Eb and one for C, but literally one for each instrument. They have, for example, separate ones for violin and piano. But they don't have them for all the instruments you mention. And there are no chord symbols on the tunes, so you can't figure out what to do yourself. IMHO, this is dorky.
This is an excellent opportunity to start becoming a musician. First of all, the bass guitar will know what to do. I can't imagine a bass guitarist who can't read a chord chart or figure out by ear what to play against your melody. The tuba works with the bass guitar and plays "oomps', adding bass runs (marching up the chord, or chromatically) for variety and interest.
The melody instruments play in unison, in harmony, and take solos. For harmony, you make up a line within the chord. This is not necessarily playing a third or fifth above or below the melody; it's playing within the chord. Sometimes, playing outside of the chord sounds great, however. Sometimes it does not. The harmony line can match note for note, or be a countermelody, or a drone, or combinations. One or more of the melody instruments can play a descant, a high dixieland style harmony, wailing above the others. You may try writing things out, then find yourself deviating to something you like better. You may be able to pick some things up by ear from recordings and try them.
Hope this helps.
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The Ethnic Clarinet
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