The elements of music to consider
Structure
- The album contains the following four tracks:
- Oro, Incienso y Mirra - Gold, frankincense and myrrh
- Calidoscopico - Kaleidoscope
- Pensativo - Thoughtful
- Exuberante - Exuberant
Each track follows a similar format to most other jazzA genre of music that has swing and syncopated rhythms, and extended chords. records - the main idea is played by the ensemble and then soloists take turns in improvisationComposing music on the spot or during a performance..
Melody
Jazz records often feature the following qualities:
- melodies are syncopationRhythm patterns where stressed notes are placed off the beat. and repetitive, often with long sustained notes - Pensativo typifies this style in the head melody
- Gillespie’s solos are influenced by bebopA type of jazz that uses a fast tempo, complex harmonies and rhythms, and virtuosic improvisations. and are highly complex
- solos feature a wide range of little repetition, extremely high-pitched notes, very fast rhythms and large leaps, eg the first solo of Oro, Incienso y Mirra.
Audio of one of Gilliespie's solos in Oro, Incienso y Mirra
Rhythm and tempo
The album is rich in Latin rhythms, which can be complex and it is not uncommon for the tempoThe speed or pace of performance in speech, dance or music. to change in each new section. Remember:
- the extensive use of African influences cross-rhythm An effect created when two or more conflicting rhythms are heard at the same time. Eg one may be in simple time and another in triple time. in the percussion section, examples include the percussion break in Pensativo
- the album is founded on a traditional son claveA cuban rhythm heard in jazz which is sometimes described as a 3 - 2 rhythm owing to the three augmented strikes, then two faster strikes. rhythm, as heard in Exuberante
A son clave rhythm can be heard in the extract of audio - it acts as a foundation for the band to build upon
- the tempo ranges from a relaxed andanteAt a walking pace. to prestoVery fast., eg Oro, Incienso y Mirra begins with a leisurely feel and then bursts into life
Instrumentation
The music has been arranged for a big band of 27 players. The instruments include:
- trumpets
- trombones
- horns
- tubas
- reed instruments
- electric bass
- electric piano
- synthesiserA device for generating a unique sound or imitating an acoustic instrument.
- the large percussion section comprises of drums, congas, bongos, African drums, timpani and marimba
Timbre
Consider the following points if there is a need to discuss the timbreThe tonal quality or sound of an instrument that distinguishes it from others. of Afro-Cuban Jazz Moods:
- Gillespie sometimes uses a trumpet muteTo dampen or temporarily switch off a sound. to alter the sonority, eg at the opening of Oro, Incienso y Mirra, which creates a tinnier sound
- Gillespie is always the most prominent soloist and the majority of the big band instruments are played as a collective group
Texture
The element points to contemplate are:
- the range of textures are exploited throughout the album with sudden changes helping change the direction and feel of the music
- the main texture of Oro, Incienso y Mirra is polyphonicTwo or more melodies or parts that play at the same time, weaving in and out of each other.
- Oro, Incienso y Mirra features the brass section performing a slow melody over which the muted trumpet improvisationComposing music on the spot or during a performance. - this forms melody and accompanimentA type of texture where there is only one clear melody and an accompaniment that plays different notes and rhythms but is supporting the melody.
- moments of homophonicA texture based on chords. writing such as the fanfare opening to Oro, Incienso y Mirra
Audio extract of the opening brass fanfare
- monophonicA texture consisting of a solo musical line. texture is implemented in the opening to Exuberante on the double bass
- use of call and responseWhere one melody is answered by another. between the big bandA large group of musicians including brass, reeds, keys, guitars, double bass and a percussion section that plays jazz and dance music. and Gillespie's trumpet at the beginning of Calidoscopico
Tonality and harmony
The features of these elements include:
- band experimentation with dissonance When at least one note conflicts with the harmony of the chord or key signature. and is heard throughout the album
- chromaticChromatic harmony uses notes from outside the key to colour the chords. are played in the solos
- melodies and solos use blues notesFlattened 3rd, 5th and 7ths in the blues scale.