Lock and Key again

• May 13, 2010 - 19:47

I revised my previous posting of "Lock and Key" to work with 0.9.6 RC1. This piece is intended to be used as an example in a music appreciation course on the development of jazz in the 1920s. Lock and Key was one of Bessie Smith's popular "Empty Bed" ballads, and she really liked James P. Johnson's accompaniment.

This piece is an adaptation of a John Farrell transcription of James Johnson accompanying Bessie Smith on a 1927 record of Lock and Key. I "rigged" the score to try to mimic Johnson's unique jazz style. Most will be put off (only at first, I hope) by all of the machinery needed to replicate his style. But perhaps the formalism of the notation will show how he made careful use for note duration to accomplish a particular result. Students of jazz style should try changing the duration of notes in the score to see what effect a change makes in the feel of the music.

I suggest listening to the mp3 of the music first, then opening up the score and watching the notes as Musescore plays it.

Here are the links:

http://ormusic.home.comcast.net/LockAndKey.mp3
http://ormusic.home.comcast.net/LockAndKey.mscz

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