6. Recordings………………………………………………………………..
6.1 Phase I: reducing the options…………………………………
I am using 10 different wind instruments. With these different instruments, there are 45 different groups to be made, including 2 horn players and 1 vocal. I already stated that within every group there are 6 possible combinations of the parts. This means that I would have 270 options. This times the 2 arrangements that I will make, give 540 options. Of course a lot are not even possible because of range. For instance, when I make an arrangement, and put myself in a group with a trombone and a baritone, I am definitely not going to be able to sing the lowest part.
When forming a 3 part horn section, it is pretty common to use horns from different ranges. I realize that it is a limitation to my research to be taring these instruments over the same brush. In the end, I might label an option as ‘not workable’, when actually it might have been, if only I had used an other instrument for this range-based groupings I made. The following schedule is an overview of the possible options of groups when taking only range into consideration.
Following this principle of range, I could make a first shift at home. I categorized the instruments like this:
Low ranged instruments: Bass Clarinet, trombone, baritone sax, tenor sax
Mid ranged instruments: alto saxophone, trumpet, bugel
High ranged instruments: flute, soprano saxophone, clarinet,
In Figure 11 you can see what all of the options are, and in Figure 12 you can see what the options are when looking at the scores and the physical range of the instruments I choose for this.
For me it is important to experiment in this phase, so that I have a more clear overview of what I want to try in the live rehearsal. I have not yet a very clear view of what it will feel and sound like to be singing other parts then the lead, so by recording these options I can get used to this already and see if there are some conclusions that I can make to help me choose my options for the live rehearsal.
Figure 11 possible combinations based on range
And below are the final options, which I recorded with Emilio in a studio and put together at home, where I also recorded my voice. The low voice could only be a 1st part when playing 8va. From now on I will refer to this as the 3rd part(leading). I do this, because the devision in parts actually regards to the register the instruments are playing in.
Figure 12 Final options
Apparently I forgot to record 4 combinations in the recording. I will have to try them in fase II with the live rehearsal. They ones I forgot are:
|
Voice |
Mid |
Mid |
Mid |
|
Mid |
Voice |
High |
Voice |
|
Low |
Low |
Voice |
High |
4 other devisions did not make it because of range:
|
Voice |
Voice |
High |
Mid |
|
Low |
Low |
Low |
Low |
|
High |
Mid |
Voice |
Voice |
The parameters I will use in this phase to draw my conclusions are:
- Possibilities use vowels voice
- Possibilities dynamics in voice/instrument
- Limitations range
- Playability/ complexibility of execution
- Expectations/ result
6.2 Findings phase I……………………………………………….
From now on, when the low part is playing the lead, I will still call it the 3rd part but define it by putting (lead 8va) behind this option.
I can draw the following conclusions based on the recordings.
- A low ranged instrument can only play the third part. Within this part, he can take a leading and a backing role.
- It seems like blending is harder for my voice when I sing the 3rd part
- The voice has a bright and clear leading range that matches with the second part being played by a mid ranged instrument (the resulting sound will be intens), or with the second part being played by a high ranged instrument (the resulting sound will be more vivid).
- The voice gets easily included in the section when playing the 2nd part unless this part is a counterpart.
- The voice is easily seen as the leading part, even when it isn’t. This is because we tend to hear the voice as the leading part, because the voice usually has the leading role.
- When assigning the parts, instrument information should always be taken into account.
- I am limited in my choice of vowels when I have to sing higher then D#5
- High can only play the third part when it is in a group with a voice and med. high instrument