At 10:05 AM -0800 12/31/06, Carl Dershem wrote:
I've done a few concert band arrangements of jazz pieces, and have always fgound it best to take them to a good drummer/percussionist for final approval before loosing them on an unsuspecting section, much as I do the same when writing string parts - let a good orchestral violinist look them over and suggest bowings and such before making the final edit.
Bless you for that, Carl!! Good bowings should ALWAYS be provided, although fingerings should not unless you're writing for elementary school orchestra. One of the pieces we just played on our Holiday Concert (concert band, with added String Pak) had bowings that not only demonstrated a complete lack of knowledge of proper bowing techniques but in many cases were simply impossible to play. It was a known arranger, too, with a good reputation. I can't remember who it was and wouldn't want to embarrass him in any case, but the string bowings sucked, and for a string player bowing IS phrasing!!!
(And since the question has come up before, by "bowings" I mean not just up and downbow marks, but all slurs, which to a string player are ALWAYS bowing instructions even if they're impossible!)
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
