[Roundmidnite]

I'm writing an original (and here's my plug for OOTM "Original of the Month"- post an original of your own on the OOTM thread! You won't regret it!)

My question is:
I need to have a passage that is just a break with free-form improv. What value do I put in the space? It's just kind of an ad lib for as long as you want thing with no constraints- it makes sense in the context of the tune.

 

[adamk]

I'm writing an original (and here's my plug for OOTM "Original of the Month"- post an original of your own on the OOTM thread! You won't regret it!)

My question is:
I need to have a passage that is just a break with free-form improv. What value do I put in the space? It's just kind of an ad lib for as long as you want thing with no constraints- it makes sense in the context of the tune.

"free form improv"

 

[Alex Nyman]

Sonja, I’ve played a lot of charts from small group to big band where this has been a request to the soloist.
Some of the wording I can remember ranges from ‘Atonal Solo’ ‘Go Nuts’ ‘Free Form Improv’ ‘Open Solo no changes’ etc

If I was writing a chart and wanted this I would possibly direct it with ‘Open Free Form Solo no changes and cue end of solo to band’

Something like that would surely give the soloist the idea of what was required by the composer I think.

 

[swperry1]

Completely free with No chord(s), accompanist, no time/ tempo…just the soloist free to be? I’d follow Alex’s line of thinking and of course instructions on a return tempo and band cue.

 

[Roundmidnite]

What would you suggest I put for the length of the measure is there a way to put sn indefinite time or something?

 

[J-Moen]

What would you suggest I put for the length of the measure is there a way to put sn indefinite time or something?

A Hold over the measure

 

[Alex Nyman]

What would you suggest I put for the length of the measure is there a way to put sn indefinite time or something?

Sonja the mere fact you put ‘open solo’ means exactly that. It’s open until the soloist decides to shut up😄 or she/he gets a cue from someone to say the bands ready to come in. Or you may want to have the band come in whilst she/he’s soloing. The easiest things is just write down in words what you want. Stand up. Sit down. Do a little dance. Play the hooter at a jauntier angle than usual. Quite literally spell out what you want. No need for special markings.

 

[Alex Nyman]

‘ad lib for as long as you want with no constraints’ what you wrote. That suffices plenty. I’d like to see that written more often😄

 

[skeller047]

Is it a lead sheet or a chart with parts for everyone? If a lead sheet, the fermata over a slash, with written instructions is fine. For a chart, the soloist gets the lead sheet instructions, everyone else gets a measure rest with a fermata and an instruction “Wait for cue”.

 

[Roundmidnite]

Is it a lead sheet or a chart with parts for everyone? If a lead sheet, the fermata over a slash, with written instructions is fine. For a chart, the soloist gets the lead sheet instructions, everyone else gets a measure rest with a fermata and an instruction “Wait for cue”.

Yes that is what I was looking for- slash with the fermata. I’m still deciding on instrumentation. Thank you!

 

[1saxman]

Cadenza obligato.

 

[soybean]

I would put a whole note in the bar you are talking about. On top of that, put a fermata (a.k.a. birds eye). Above the formata write the words “ad lib cadenza“. Then in the following bar, write the words “on cue“.

 

[JL]

If by 'free form' you mean no specific chord changes, then the suggestions above would apply. OTOH, in case you want the band to 'vamp' behind the soloist with some basic changes, you could call it a "I-IV vamp" or something like that, depending on what chords you want.

 

[Roundmidnite]

I guess there are a variety of ways to do it. I guess HS chart would have different terminologies than other genres though.

 

[datsaxman]

Why? Good notation is good notation anywhere.