Big Band Voicings: Arranging Techniques

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0:00 Intro
0:20 The melody
0:43 Voicing the first chord for big band
2:30 Closed or open voicings
2:55 Trombones
3:46 Saxophones
5:39 Harmonization
12:47 Trombones
16:30 Saxophones
20:28 Change of voice leading
20:35 Play through
In this video I describe how I'd go about harmonizing a short melody in the style I have learnt by studying Gil Evans. I then orchestrate it for full jazz big band.
Closed voicing, open voicing, jazz harmony, Miles ahead, jazz chords, orchestration, music theory, arranging.
#orchestration #bigband #jazzharmony

[@gilevansinsideout]

Hello! Do you have any Gil/Jazz arranging/Voicing questions that you would like to ask? Please comment them, and I'll be sure to answer them in a video.

[@eukosmiker4662]

Essential channel. Thank you so much from Germany.

[@gilevansinsideout]

Thank you!

[@givigachechiladze9158]

More than 60 years have passed since the stunning, revolutionary works of Gil Evans (inspiring my work since 1957, after after the release of Miles Ahead). I don't think we've yet realized the full value of Gil's contribution to new thinking for large orchestra arrangements. He undeniably paved the way from the traditional big band to the Modern Large Jazz Orchestra. Not for dancing and entertainment, but for Reflection, like after reading a good novel, which, in my opinion, is very much appreciated for a person's spirituality. Thanks for remembering. Great video.

[@gilevansinsideout]

Thank you for your well thought out comment.

[@spudsmith]

This helped me SO MUCH!! Thank you!!

[@gilevansinsideout]

Awesome, happy to have helped. I think you’ll like the other big band videos on my channel then

[@carlaburgers3088]

Amazing and inspiring

[@gilevansinsideout]

Thank you!

[@KANELASAO]

gracias!!!!!

[@gilevansinsideout]

de nada

[@gabrielcassaro]

20 mins?! That's what I'm talking about!

[@gilevansinsideout]

Woah that was quick! :D

[@TylerDunphy]

Amazing insight!

[@gilevansinsideout]

Thanks Tyler

[@trumpetfredrik]

Nice video! As an occasional lead trumpet player, I like when lead trumpet is doubled down the octave by lead trombone. It means I won't have to play so loud to get the line out over the band, which in turn is easier on my chops.

[@gilevansinsideout]

Thanks for sharing Fredrik. How about when one of the saxes is an octave below you? It's probably not as strong, but helps somewhat?

[@trumpetfredrik]

@@gilevansinsideout I guess it would be helpful, but personally I find it very hard to hear the saxes when the brass section is playing loud passages. The lead trombone is sitting right in front of the lead trumpet, so there's a chance of hearing the lower octave, which is not the case with the saxes.

[@gilevansinsideout]

Yes good point. Thanks Fredrik

[@jed_mp3]

What a great video! Listening to each section being introduced was great to hear

[@gilevansinsideout]

Awesome, thank you!

[@Norm64349]

Wonderful. Thank you.

[@gilevansinsideout]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Apfelstrudl]

Very neat! A few more sound examples would have been nice when choosing chords/voicing but overall awesome work. Do voice crossings for smoother voiceleading ever occur in Jazz/Big Band writing or do they always stay top to bottom as here? Interesting for me also that repeated notes are aimed to be avoided here as they would be ideal in classical voice leading.

[@gilevansinsideout]

Thank you. Good comment, and a real band instead of midi would be great as well! Yes cross overs occur. Having the same note in the same voice works well in Bach chorales etc, its just the quicker swing feel passages where the band is playing all of the same rhythm where its nice for a part to move especially. I mention Bach in a few of my videos.

[@santiagoprieto6772]

What software do you use?

[@gilevansinsideout]

Hey, I use Sibelius for notation.

[@whoozblues6821]

I noticed you "violate" the age -=olds cardinal rule of keeping trumpets in one octave an, above the staff, doubling 4th and first an octave apart. Is this Gil? or you? Thanks

[@gilevansinsideout]

Hey good question, that is all Gil Evans! Have a look at some of my other big band videos. There’s lots of examples from Gil himself

[@maurogonzalez5511]

How about a video of arranging multiples c minors 7?

[@gilevansinsideout]

Sounds like a good idea! Do you mean covering the basics and then some advanced options?

[@maurogonzalez5511]

@@gilevansinsideout hey thanks for replyng. Yeah i have troubles harmonizing chains of consecutives minors 7 because repetitive notes between chords. With dominants is different you can do more things

[@gilevansinsideout]

Very true. Do you mean minor chords in parallel or a 4th away from each other? Another way is to test yourself in terms of creative voice leading. Try altering the pitches not worrying about the vertical structure so much. See what happens, you might like it.

[@skidz12341]

😮

[@gilevansinsideout]

:D Home safe and sound?