Improvisation in Jazz, Improvisation of Wuji Ensemble

Improvisation in Jazz, Improvisation of Wuji Ensemble

Improvisation in Jazz

Improvisation in Jazz complies with the music principle and structure to a certain extent. The groove is initiated from the variation of three elements – rhythm, harmony, and form. Jazz improvisation also combines the theory of blues and its complicated harmony.

Musicians are required to have a certain degree of knowledge and techniques including scales and chords as well as profound familiarity of music structures. Only with these resources can the musician bring in exclusive elements of his/her own from the existing ground. In most circumstances, a jazz improvisation commences from a particular main tune when the lead player begins improvising. For instances, during a Jazz Quartet, as the main melody comes out from the trumpet, other musicians will react instantaneously with imitation and variation.

Improvisation of Wuji Ensemble

Sheet music never appears on the stage of Wuji Ensemble. Abandoning their routines, musicians reject the restriction and norm of intonation. They return to the primal point of music during live concerts. Playing from their heart and soul, they have their dexterity enhanced and their sense of hearing sharpened.

On Chinese Music  Embellishment and Improvisation

Ornament or embellishment is an emblematic element in Chinese music improvisation; musicians could deploy it whenever they feel inclined to. Rhythms in Chinese music are governed by fewer norms. Ordinarily, only beats – strong and weak ones – are being indicated. The musician can also determine the length of interval between each beat. Each musician utilises the embellishment in his or her own fashion. Consequently, an eclectic mix of these moves gives off an exclusive vibe when a single tune is being performed by a group of players.

Cantonese Music: Butterflies among the Flowers Performing Unit: Yu Qiwei Cantonese Music Ensemble

Exercise Let’s Begin from the Motif to Perceive Different Timbres

Selected from one of the works by Wuji Ensemble, the following line consists of four notes: A–E–A–G#. Listen to its presentation by various instruments with modified rhythms and tones. Try to distinguish each individual timbre produced by the variation of these four notes.

Key: A minor

1. Play the above tune with multifarious instruments e.g. piano, clarinet, timpani, double bass, and trumpet. 2. The tune is originally written in minor. Try to rearrange it to D major or E minor. 3. The tune has a 4/4 beat. Try to rearrange it with other beat patterns.

Now pick up your own instrument. Follow your heart and extend the tune randomly. Create a variation of your very own.

Examples of variation and tone sandhi