[PHmasterT]

Hi people. My name is Pedro (Peter in English) and this is my firt post in the sax on the web forum. I wanted to know if you know any book of Oliver Nelson of Modern Harmony. This book really exist? My teacher met with the Nelson and said he was author of a book on modern harmony.

I await the response of colleagues.
Thanks and sorry for my bad English

 

[tjontheroad]

Hi Pedro. I think you maybe looking for this:

Patterns For Improvisation - By Oliver Nelson
http://aebersold.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=PI&Category_Code

 

[gary]

Hi Pedro, welcome!

Pedro, if Oliver Nelson wrote a book on harmony I don't know of it and I would be interested in getting my hands on one if he did.

Nelson's "Patterns For Improvisation" is not a harmony book, but a book of phrases for improvisation. As a matter of fact, Nelson did not include chord symbols above the phrases and there's some controversy about just how to use the book. So, not only is it not a harmony book, it's actually a bit confusing in that area.

I think mostly when folks want to learn about his harmony they study his music. There used to be (maybe it's still in print) a piano book of Nelson tunes. I think there is a transcription book of "Blues and the Abstract Truth". At any rate, you are probably going to have to google and research what music is available and then look at it, vs finding a book specifically about Nelson's harmonies.

Actually, IMO, there's no real mystery to his harmonies. His progressions are generally orthodox and it's his quartal melodic ideas and voicings of the harmonies that make his music distinct.

When did your teacher talk to Oliver? He's been dead for over 30 years. Maybe your teacher is not remembering correctly. Or maybe Oliver did write such a book and it's been long out-of-print. I would surely be interested.

 

[rleitch]

I can imagine Nelson in a particularly sadistic mood calling Patterns a study in modern harmony: to get from harmonic point A to B, you just have to play everything in between, a half step at a time, at blazing speeds .

It could be that Nelson collaborated with somebody on a book?

Good luck and welcome aboard!

Rory

 

[PHmasterT]

Hi tjontheroad. Thanks for answer. Actually I already knew that book of patterns. Even so thank you.

Hi Gary. Thanks for answer. My teacher did Berklee almost 40 years. He was student of Oliver Nelson and the great arranger Gordon Delamont, who is author of a book on modern harmony. According to him their books were Boycotted For some reason at the time and left the movement.

Hi rleitch. Thanks for answer too. I do not know whether Nelson collaborated with someone or wrote the book alone. But if there find this book of Oliver Nelson would be wonderful.

Thanks peoples and sorry for my english

 

[PHmasterT]

Hello people.
I have new information.
This Oliver Nelson's stuff isn't a book of harmony. It is a treatise in harmony. Probably it is at Berklee College of Music, in a library.

 

[BOPITY FUNK]

Hi Pedro, again welcome aboard "Saxophone Madness"!! If this 'treatise' does exist in a library at Berklee then wow! the Sax Detectives are gonna find this mutha!
This is Dan Brown stuff! -- we are all looking for "The Holy Grail"
Be warned Pedro, SOTW is dangerously addictive, the only cure is an international power cut!
Best regards--BTW your English is far better than many who claim it to be their native tongue--- BF

 

[gary]

Wow, a resurrected topic. Well in light of the latest "news" . . .

Oliver Nelson got a degree in composition and theory from either Washington or Lincoln (he studied at both) University. Perhaps he had to write a thesis as part of his course work and perhaps that is what is being referred to. So, if anyone is really interested enough, I would contact both of these universities for more information.

But, really, his stuff is not that harmonicaly complex, it was just a bit different. All you need are his scores, recordings and a copy of Hindemith's "The Craft of Musical Composition" and you're in business.

 

[PHmasterT]

Hello BOPITY FUNK.
Really SOTW is dangerously addictive.
Thanks for the eulogy.

Hi Gary.
Thanks again for the tips.

Best Regards