At 10:20 PM -0800 12/30/06, Carl Dershem wrote:
Anyway, drum parts are a black art, but should be hints of what needs to be played - not beat-for-beat maps.
Great story, Carl, but I'd have to add that it definitely depends on your situation. For jazz, show or rock--commercial music in general--I agree that a guide rather than a filled-in part is definitely what's needed, as long as you've hired someone who knows his (or her) business. In fact one may well run into students, in particular, who do not read music per se. Not so much a black art (like writing for harp, handbells or pipe organ!!) as simply knowing how to communicate with your drummer.
For classical, including light concert band arrangements, I'd have to disagree. In those genres the equation has to favor the composer's or arranger's creativity over the player's. You're no longer talking about a drummer pushing a big band (or even a small combo).
But of course there's a broad area of crossover. When I write for our community band in a pop style and specify drum set, I leave the part open and just specify, i.e., "8 bars jazz waltz." But that can't always work, as witness watching the guy who TRIES to play set with the Boston Pops--one heckofa percussionist, I'm sure, but NOT the instincts of a good set player!!!
John -- John & Susie Howell Virginia Tech Department of Music Blacksburg, Virginia, U.S.A 24061-0240 Vox (540) 231-8411 Fax (540) 231-5034 (mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]) http://www.music.vt.edu/faculty/howell/howell.html _______________________________________________ Finale mailing list [email protected] http://lists.shsu.edu/mailman/listinfo/finale
