Harlem Nocturne Septet

[rrayner]

Hi Herbert,

Thank you for your insight, and the amount of time you spent on your response. There is so much to learn and so little time. I am continually torn by my priorities, but in the end, what has to be done is what gets done. The rest is dessert.

I understand what you are saying about volume and velocity -- I just have not tried to put it to practical use yet. Whereas I appreciate your compliment on the volume/velocity level of the bass, I cannot claim credit. Looking at the score, I see that the trombone, baritone sax, bass and drums are all set to a static volume of 100. The trumpet is set to 96 and the tenor sax is set at 110. I don't know how this came to be. What probably happened is that my original score for "Harlem Nocturne" was written on my Clavinova (before Composer came into my life), where I painstakingly entered each and every note with a very tedious data entry capability. I took that midi file, imported it into Composer and cleaned up the notation, so the volume levels had to have come from that source. I do not yet have the knowledge to have done that intentionally. But, spurred by the dialogs by you and others on the subject, I will try to become more knowledgeable in this area. I know that over the years, I have been very displeased at my inability to create a more legato effect in the horns. I have a suspicion that you are leading me into an area of discovery. Heaven knows, Sherry and Mark have tried to educate me in this area, but it has just seemed to bounce off.

Thank you for all of your commentary. I will see if I can put it to good use.

Ralph

[herbert]

Hi Ralph,

Thank you for your response. We’ll talk again soon.

Herbert

[aulos43]

Hey Ralph,

Just listened to your Harlem Nocturne.mp3 again. Love the interplay between the solo and the tutti (or whatever the jazz terminology equivalents may be). The tone of the tenor sax in the A section (Clavinova is remarkable) is indeed sultry. The delicious textural effects of pitting swung against straight rhythmic interpretations and the careful attention to atriculations. Satisfying contrapuntal chord voicings.

I was transported.

Walt

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[rrayner]

Thank you very much, Walt. I truly appreciate the compliments. I do love this song. One of the things about the Clavinova voice that really tickles me is on the starting note, the low B on the tenor, there is a little flutter that will occasionally happen to me when I play it live. Talk about realism!

Ralph