"Amazing Grace" for Band (All Garritan)

[composingatnight]

Hi Rodney,

I was just responding to your comments you left on my Bossa three weeks ago (OK, I'm a little behind!), and ... boom ... three more versions! Super!

I'm glad you went with what was in your heart (flute), not mine (clarinet): You are the composer/arranger this time!

To clarify my suggestion:

My comment for solo clarinet was to use it as an 8-bar solo voice @ 0:22 ... without any counterpoint or accompaniment at all, in which case the Bb clarinet's chalumeau register would work nicely. But once you decided to keep the counter-melodies at that point, I agree wholeheartedly with Randy/Snor, that a flute in the mid-high register is a much better choice.

With that said, the flute is being covered up a bit around 0:40; the brass countermelody seems stronger than the lead flute melody for the next 3-4 measures. I understand this is all very preliminary, but the mix sounds pretty good even at this stage, so wanted to give you my heads-up.

Snor: I play, (for personal pleasure only!) a bunch of flutes, clarinets and saxes ... low-end and lowest-end of Bb clarinet (and bass clarinet for most average players) is very, very doable (even for me) and at all dynamic levels. It's low end of tenor and bari saxes that are much more difficult to play sonorously, especially at soft dynamic levels (I CAN do ff honking geese though!).

(Aside: One of the real treats for me is listening to the low-reed chair for a Broadway musical do warm-ups on the baritone sax ... they run 2-1/2 octave scales up and down, diatonic and chromatic, at ppp and are perfectly in-tune with the most beautiful, even timbre. I just sigh and wait for the overture to begin! LOL)

Yeah ... Music Lab 101 ... great idea!

Thanks Rodney for letting me participate in your "arranging-by-committee" workshop!

Frank

Frank, I am working on this as we speak. Were you hearing low clarinet with just chords underneath or something even thinner? I was thinking the exact same thing as you concerning the 1st trombone getting in the way.
~Rod

[Frank D]

Frank, I am working on this as we speak. Were you hearing low clarinet with just chords underneath or something even thinner? I was thinking the exact same thing as you concerning the 1st trombone getting in the way.
~Rod

Hi Rodney,

I'm off to supper, but, yes ... when I said solo, that's what I meant ... just a single, stark clarinet after that nice intro using that new material you weave through-out the entire chart. Solo clarinet right there at @ 0:22. And just for the basic, main theme ... 8 bars only. Then you start weaving the counterpoint and thicken the whole thing up.

But I meant what I said: That's how I would arrange this tune. But please go in the direction you feel most comfortable with!

I think AG is such a familiar melody, and it is so plaintive in nature, my sensibilities hear a simple solo first presentation of it, unadorned. It gives you a base to get real big later on. It's that 'contrast' element of arranging, albeit taken to the max!

Very subjective, my comments! Can't wait to hear your next mix of it!

Off to eat!

Frank