Click on any topic below to begin. After selecting a topic click on any music image or text link to play a portion of the music. There is no specific order to the topics listed below.

This tutorial is not meant to be a comprehensive guide to jazz arranging but to offer topics specifically related to the music found on the CD. An attempt is made to keep images to a minimum (to speed download time) and the written words short and to the point. I believe the user will gain the most from this tutorial by listening to the audio excerpts while viewing the music examples displayed on the screen.

 

Instrument ranges and transpositions

 

saxophones | woodwind doubles | brass | rhythm | lead part writing

 

Section voicings

 

saxophones | trumpets | trombones | mixed

 

Compositional techniques

 

planing | bell tones | imitation | counterpoint | pedal point | ostinato

 

Form

 

introduction | ending | interlude | extension of phrase | shout chorus

 

Orchestration

 

muted brass | doubling | woodwinds | flugelhorns

 

Density

 

unison / octaves | two-part | three-part | four-part | five-part

 

Harmony

 

substitutions | extensions / polychords | inversions | quartal | contrapuntal elaboration of static harmony