Marching Piccolos

[cptexas]

Marches often have that fluttering, playful piccolo part on top of the more serious march melody, and I'm seeking to learn more about these parts.

How do you write one? OK, vague question, I know, but do you just throw together a bunch of trills and arpegios and scales that match the chords of the march theme, or is there some kind of formula, or technique? How do you do it?

-Chris

[GDG]

Marches often have that fluttering, playful piccolo part on top of the more serious march melody, and I'm seeking to learn more about these parts.

How do you write one? OK, vague question, I know, but do you just throw together a bunch of trills and arpegios and scales that match the chords of the march theme, or is there some kind of formula, or technique? How do you do it?

-Chris

Consider the piccolo obligato as just another melody: write it to fit the chords, and to fit with the main melody (and countermelodies) below it. To have it ring out over the rest of the band, keep the written range above the treble staff (the low register will disappear into the flute & clarinet timbre).

And remember to write only for piccolo in C - the Db piccolo is an antique that is not widely used.

Enjoy,

Grant

[cptexas]

So it's just like any other counterpoint melody but usually with trills and stuff and is really fluttery and playful?
Because of this curiosity of mine I've had the Stars and Stripes Forever stuck in my head, with the piccolo part really sticking out. Getting a little annoying now...

-Chris

[GDG]

So it's just like any other counterpoint melody but usually with trills and stuff and is really fluttery and playful?
Because of this curiosity of mine I've had the Stars and Stripes Forever stuck in my head, with the piccolo part really sticking out. Getting a little annoying now...

-Chris

Yep, depending, of course, on the mood you want. By the time the piccolo obbligato usually comes in, you're usually looking to increase the energy of the piece. Lots of rapid motion is good for that

Speaking of the S&SF, I have a recording of our band (the San Jose Wind Symphony) playing the S&SF with Patrick Sheridan playing the piccolo part - on TUBA!

[CallMeZoot]

A trick I learned from a composition teacher when I was in high school. To write a descant, just take the alto part up an octave or two, and make some embellishments.

The marching piccolo thing is very similar to a descant, so if you're writing tonal music, this might be a good starting point. Take whatever line is right below the main melody--especially if it's a harmonizing line, like the melody doubled in 3rds or 6ths, and pop it way up into the piccolo range, add some fluffy trills and runs and fast arpeggios to taste, and voila, there you have it.

Eventually you'll probably want to be a little less formulaic, but I bet this would be a quick and dirty way to practice getting the results you're looking for.

let me know how this works out,
chris.

[cptexas]

Piccolo part on TUBA??? Geez... reminds me of an organ concert at Radio City where the organist played that part on the pedals, but had it set up so that the pedals were in the piccolo range.

Thanks, Chris, for your reply. I've played with taking up the alto and tenor lines, but never thought of them as a piccolo obligato. Thanks for the info. I'll have to try it.

-Chris

[Dargason]

A piccolo obbligato is also a great place to have some fun with your thematic material - borrow from themes and motifs that occur elsewhere in the piece!

[cptexas]

A piccolo obbligato is also a great place to have some fun with your thematic material - borrow from themes and motifs that occur elsewhere in the piece!

Good idea!
Thanks for adding to the thoughts here.
-Chris

[Dargason]

Or even better, borrow from the themes and motifs of other pieces!

[cptexas]

Or even better, borrow from the themes and motifs of other pieces!

Uhhh... wouldn't that seem a bit random and out of place?