MUTH-M309-001 Modern Arranging 2 Credits SYLLABUS – Spring 2021

TTH 11:00 AM- 11:50 AM

Gordon Towell DME [email protected] phone 865-2164 Office Hours will be posted at my door, CM 245

This course is the study of composition and arranging with the emphasis on writing for large jazz ensembles.

Prerequisites: MUJZ M107, M108, or permission of instructor

Class meeting location TR -11:00 a.m. rm. 240 and online Text: Instrumental Jazz Arranging by Mike Tomaro and John Wilson (Required) Publisher: Hal Leonard

$49.99 (US) ISBN: 9781423452744

Inside the Score by Rayburn Wright. Jazz Arranging and Composing by Bill Dobbins

Publisher: Advance Music (June 1986) Language: English Price $41.60 ISBN-10: 3892210063

ISBN-13: 978-3892210061

(Reference) (Reference)

Course Goals and Course Objectives: As a part of the Jazz Studies curriculum, this class is focused on the techniques and jazz Students will learn about voicing techniques, instrumental transpositions, rhythm section chart preparation, contrapuntal writing, forms, motifs, and more arranging and compositional techniques

Expected Student Learning Outcomes: Students will demonstrate understanding of arranging and composing techniques for jazz ensembles through realizing writing assignments and having them performed. The final project will be a full composition/arrangement for large jazz ensemble. If possible this will be recorded by the jazz ensemble. If this is not possible this semester a full midi recording will be submitted.

Grading System: Individual points will be assigned to each arranging project according to quality, neatness, timeliness and appropriateness to the jazz idiom. All assigned projects will to form the final grade. Use of Finale, Sibelius and/or musescore is highly recommended. Each assignment will be recorded and submitted/shared with score.

Attendance Philosophy: Attendance is required. Classes will alternate between groups meetings to discuss general concepts, procedures and lab sessions to address individual needs on the various projects assigned during the course of the semester.

Grades and Attendance: Missing two class sessions (group or individual) will result in a single grade lower to be applied to the final grade. Subsequent absences will lower the grade one letter for each absence.

Transposition Assignment 25 points

Saxophone Assignment 25 points

Trombone Assignment 25 points

Trumpet Assignment 25 points

Rhythm Section Assignment 25 points

Chart Outline 25 points

Head 25 points

Interlude/Send Off 25 points

Solo Section, Background 25 points

Shout Section 50 points

Sax Soli 25 points Parts/Score 150 points Recording 50 points

500 points

A 450-500, B, 400-449 C, 350-399 D, 300-349 F, 0-300

As a part of the Jazz Studies curriculum, this class is focused on the techniques and performance practices associated with the performance of jazz. It is important that those taking this class are well grounded in these aspects of music. It is highly recommended that students enrolled in this course have experience playing in a jazz ensemble as well as been involved with the study of jazz improvisation and piano before undertaking the study of jazz arranging. The music written during the course of this class must be performed, recorded, and turned in with a copy of the score and transposed parts on the date due to receive full credit for the assignment. Late work will be downgraded one half-letter grade for each day or portion thereof that the assignment is late. If live performance is not yet available due to Covid a MIDI recording will be accepted.

Week 1 Chord and Voicing review/Transpositions

Week 2 Saxophones/Basic four-part writing/Supersax and Drop 2

- 8 bars 4 part

Week 3 Trombones/Contrapuntal techniques

- 8 bars 4 part

Week 4 Trumpets/2 and 3 way voicing

-8 bars 4 part

Week 5 Shout Chorus 5 way voicing

- 8 bars 4 part

Week 6 Rhythm Section

Week 7 Chart Outline

Week 8 Head

Week 9 Introduction/interlude/send off

Week 10 Shout Chorus

Week 10-11 Sax Soli/ or

Week 12 Solo sections and Backgrounds

Week 13 Coda

Week 14 Record/individual help

Week 15 Recording/Score/Parts

Jazz Arranging Listening List:

ARTIST Count Basie

Village Vanguard Orchestra Maria Schneider Orchestra Thad Jones/ Mel Lewis

Mel Lewis/Bob Brookmeyer

Miles Davis, Gerry Mulligan

Kenny Wheeler

Vince Mendoza/WDR Village Vanguard Orch

ALBUM TITLE Straight Ahead

Lickety Split Evanessence

Mosaic Reissues (Solid State)

Live at the Village Vanguard

Miles Ahead Jazz Masters 36

Music for Large & Small Ensembles

Sketches Thad Jones Legacy

ARRANGER Sammy Nestico

Jim McNeely Schneider Thad Jones

Brookmeyer

Gil Evans

Brookmeyer, Mulligan McFarland

Wheeler

Mendoza Thad Jones

Chart

Hayburner, Basie Straight Ahead 3&1, Us, ABC Blues, Kids Are Pretty People

Hello & Goodbye First Love Song w/Dave Liebman new recordings of classics

Mel Lewis Jam

Mel Lewis Blues

Duke Ellington

Dial and Oats

John Faddis

Art Pepper

Holober/Gotham City Holober/Stockholm JO

ARTIST Maria Schneider Schneider Schneider Jim McNeely/WDR Stockholm JO Stockholm JO Bob Mintzer Gil Evans

Joe Henderson Count Basie

20 Years at the Village Vanguard

Finnegan’s C Blues

ABC

“Little” “Little” Big Band

DETAILS

To You

And His Mother Called Him Bill

Brassworks Remembrances

....Plus 11

Thought Trains Live in Malmo

ALBUM TITLE Coming AboutSchneider Allegresse Schneider Days of Wine and Roses Schneider

East Coast Blowout

Sound Bites

Jigsaw

Art of The Big Band

Giants of Jazz Collection

Porgy & Bess Big Band The Essential

McNeely/Scofield McNeely McNeely Mintzer

Evans w/Dick Oats

Kenny Werner Ellington, Strayhorn

Rich DeRosa

Carlos Franzetti

Marty Paitch

ARRANGER

Thad Jones

Henderson, Bob Belden Don Sebesky

Bill Holman Dutch Jazz Orchestra Bob Florence Tom Harrell Darcy James Argue Mike Holober

Academic Integrity: All work dishonesty (including, but not limited to, plagiarism on papers or cheating on exams) will be punished. A summary of the University’s definitions and procedures concerning academic integrity can be found in the Undergraduate Bulletin (pp. 46-47 of the 2003-5 Bulletin). If you are uncertain how to use and cite the work of others within your own work, consult reference works such as Kate L. Turabain, A Manual for Written Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations, 6th ed., revised by John Grossman and Alice Bennett, Chicago Guides to Writing, Editing, and Publishing (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1966), or see instructor.

Special Accommodations: If you have a disability and wish to receive accommodations, please contact Disability Services at 504-865-2990. If you wish to receive test accommodations (e.g., extended test time), you will need to give the course instructor an official Accommodation Form from Disability Services. The Office of Disability Services is located in Marquette Hall 112.