Literature list for Improvisation:
by Karst de Jong
Adolphe, Bruce, The Mind’s Ear: Exercises for Improving the Musical Imagination for Performers, Listeners and Composers, MMB Music (1991)
A small book describing the authors use of form when improvising with classical musicians. Ranging from amusing suggestions and games to rather challenging musical endeavors, these exercises were created by the author for his classes at the Juilliard School. Contains many examples.
Bergonzi, Jerry, Inside Improvisation (series), Advance Music (1994)
Series of 7 volumes on Improvisation. Especially the volume on Pentatonics is useful and universally applicable for all styles. CD’s included. Index:
Volume 1 - Melodic Structures
Volume 2 - Pentatonics
Volume 3 - Jazz Lines
Volume 4 - Melodic Rhythms
Volume 5 - Thesaurus of Melodies
Volume 6 - Developing A Jazz Language
Volume 7 - Hexatonics
Berliner, Paul, Thinking in Jazz : The Infinite Art of Improvisation, University Of Chicago Press (1994)
A comprehensive ethnimusicological study based on numerous interviews with great improvising musicians. Paul Berliner documents the lifetime of preparation that lies behind the skilled improviser’s every idea. A must read for anyone interested in the subject.
Boquet, Pascale & Rebours, Gérard, 50 standards of the Renaissance and Baroque (with Variants, Examples & Advice for Playing & Improvising on any instrument), Éditions Fuzeau Classique (2007)
Many sources of Renaissance and Baroque ’songs’ in one book. Including an extensive chapter on improvisation practises of that time. Covers a huge amount of genres such as Passamezzo, Romanesca, Gaillarde, Passacaglia and Folia.
Chase, Mildred Portney, Improvisation: Music from the Inside Out, Creative Arts Book Co., (1988)
A kindly written book about starting from scratch with improvisation. Also by the same author: Just Being at the Piano.
Crook, Hal, How to Improvise, Advance Music (2002)
Nice and very informative book, aimed at the advanced beginner. Systematic approach to (jazz) improvisation With short and well organized exercises offering a quite complete overview.
Gjerdingen, Robert, Monuments of Partimenti, Collections on the internet: http://faculty-web.at.northwestern.edu/music/gjerdingen/partimenti/index.htm
Monuments of Partimenti is a rich collection of material, edited by Robert O. Gjerdingen with a fund from the National Endowment of the Arts. Gjerdingen is a Musicologist working at Chicago’s Northwestern University. The partimento tradition in 18th century Italy was crucial for the teaching of improvisation and composition, two skills that were considered to be closely linked. It’s all about learning to speak the (universally understandable) musical language of the 18th century. Learning how to say the appropriate things at the appropriate moment.
Harris, Eddie, The Interverlistic concept, Seventh House Ltd. Music Publishing Company, 2nd edition (2006)
Three books in one with great ideas as well as a lot of strange stuff. Harris was a specialist in “grooves” and playing with large intervals. A book to look through, make some copies, and then continue exploring on your own.
Liebman, David, A chromatic approach to jazz harmony and melody, Advance Music (1991)
A deep investigation into chromatisicm applied to improvisation. Improvisation with certain intervallic combinations (similar to some of Anto Pett’s excercises), complex chords and voicings. Not an easy book, but a fascinating read that may get you thinking over again.
Nochmanovitch, Stephen, Free Play: Improvisation in Life and Art, Tarcher (1991)
A book about the inner sources of spontaneous creation. A philosophical and practical description of the art of improvisation. Often used by students and teachers in Gothenburg.
Pett, Anto, The Teaching Method, Anne Fuzeau Productions (2007)
Systematical approach to (atonal) improvisation. Contains an interview of Anto Pett with Etienne Rolin on improvisation and 15 chapters with excersices. Improvisation as an infinitely versatile mode of self-expression is limited only by the imagination of the performer. The method helps to open up and develop the creative activity, and it establishes step by step the control over thinking processes and their technical execution on the instrument.
The exercises are for teaching young musicians as well as top level professional musicians, who need ” reviving” their immense experiences in music for expressing their own ideas.
Slonimsky, Nicolas, Thesaurus of scales and melodic patterns, Music Sales America (1947,1975)
Used by many jazz musicians. Quite theoretic but extensive overview of scales and patterns, introducing concepts like interpolation and ultrapolation. Good resource to take out what is valuable for you. Since its publication in 1947, great musicians and composers of all genres - from Arnold Schoenberg and Virgil Thomson to John Coltrane and Freddie Hubbard - have sworn by this legendary volume and its comprehensive vocabulary of melodic patterns for composition and improvisation.
Stevens, John, Search and Reflect: A Music Workshop Handbook, Rockschool (2007)
A music workshop handbook documenting the pieces used by the London-based organisation Community Music in its workshops. The pieces are designed to encourage more people to participate in group music-making and therefore cater as much for the musically inexperienced as for the proficient musican. At quite an elemantary level.
Weiskopf, Walt, Intervallic Improvisation (A Player’s Guide - A Step Beyond Linear Improvisation), Jamey Aebersold (1995)
Improvisation with triad pairs (like E augmented + Bb over E7alt). A presentation of the simple technique of using only two triads to create long, exciting phrases for all improvisers. Easy to understand and a good basis for further exploration.
Hello Everybody,
Please note the literature list for Improvisation, which I compilated with the help of other members of our group. Note that the list is far from complete, any suggestions for additions are welcome. I will keep expanding, and eventually also divide the sources in different categories such as jazz-improvisation, free etc. Enjoy and comment if you feel like it!
Karst
What about improvisation in organizations or improvisation and leadership?
Do you have a list or could you mention a few of the newest litterature in that area?