Arranging Techniques

Question 1

Basie 4 Part Harmony

Answer 1

Closed voicing clusters. 4 trumpets & 4 trombones doubled an octave away. 5 saxes double trombones with Bari doubling the lead of the section an octave down.

Question 2

Basic ensemble/basic choral voicing

Answer 2

The trombone and sax voicing are opening up and are constructed from the bottom up to include (usually) the root, 3rd, and 7th. Interval between bass voice and next is usually larger (5th or 7th). Voices do not automatically move in parallel to the lead, as in thickened line voicing, but move independently to balance the sometimes conflicting requirements od good voice leading and good sonority.

Trumpets in 3 parts with doubled lead an octave down, or 4 parts closed.

Question 3

Sax Soli voicings

Answer 3

4 part harmony, in drop 2 voicing and melody doubled down an octave.

Rich because Bari is playing 10th or 9th with lead alto.

Question 4

Drop 2 voicing

Answer 4

Take a chord, drop the 2nd highest note down an octave.

Question 5

Drop 2 and 4 voicing

Answer 5

Take a chord, drop the 2nd and 4th highest note (before moving any) down an octave.

Question 6

Bass Doubling

Answer 6

In voicing the horns in basic ensemble, avoid doubling the bass voice inside the harmony in the next octave above the normal bass range.