By the way, thinking about this reminds me of the awesome way in which even a purely monophonic instrument like a recorder can play true counterpoint with itself, in parallel, by hopping up and down between separate lines.
I agree entirely. Without it, it isn't counterpoint.
I guess what I'm saying comes from the other direction. The reason that a lot of, though far from all, jazz contains counterpoint is because call and response and building on what other's are presently playing, tends to pull things in that direction.
Jazz relative beginner, starting at a much older age than was helpful. AVL:MXE Linux; Windows 11 BIAB2026 Audiophile, a bunch of other software. Kawai MP6, Ui24R, Focusrite Saffire Pro40 and Scarletts .
I was reminded, a couple of days ago during a Guy Michelmore video, that counter point can be as simple and effective as a bass filling the gap between melodic phrases of the lead voice/instrument with something interesting.
Last edited by rayc; 11/21/2112:50 PM.
Cheers rayc "What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
Hmmm... I had similar thoughts about Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring in high school and arranged it for solo guitar. Later, I added mandolin parts for the choir, a second guitar to fill out the orchestration and a bass. That was 50 years ago this month.
I performed the solo guitar version for nearly 40 years till my left arm became crippled.
A couple of months ago, I decided to have my church choir perform it. As I was asking my wife to record the organ part so that my singers could add their voices (still doing this online), she reminded me that I had transcribed this to Finale in 1992. Oh yea… forgot about that. Well, that made it easy.
One of my singers added a flute to the obligato and I changed the guitar to a harp which sounded better behind the singers,
So, 50 years later,
BIAB 2026 Audiophile Mac 24Core/60CoreGPU M2 MacStudioUltra/8TB/192GB Sequoia/Tahoe, M1 & M5 MBAir, 2012 MBP Digital Performer11, Logic, Finale27/Dorico/Encore/SmartScore/Notion/Overture
What a happy Sunday surprise. This is a song that will never grow old for me, and I too play it pretty much every day as part of my practice routine.
This tune is the the "23rd Psalm" of music for me: no matter what kind of mood I am in it never fails to lift me up and make me happy.
It is not a stretch for me to say that I can hear God inside this song. When it gets to that last part (the last third) and you can hear all the previous parts folding back in on themselves, I always get the same reaction, and then smile and say to myself, "Yep. I can hear God in that."
Thanks for posting this Mike. This is truly a treat. Have a blessed Holiday season and post more stuff like this! Good for the soul!
David Snyder Songwriter/Renaissance Man Studio + Fingers
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