Malcolm Rivera
A big band is a type of musical ensemble that plays jazz music and rose to popularity during the Swing Era from the early 1930s to the late 1940s. The number of musicians in a big band can vary, but it typically consists of approximately 10 to 25 musicians, including saxophones, trumpets, trombones, and a rhythm section. The music played by big bands is highly arranged or prepared in advance, with sheet music and notations made by bandleaders. The genre is known for its complex harmonies and syncopated rhythms, with individual singers and musicians often improvising melodic solos.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of musicians | 10-25 |
| Type of music | Jazz, swing |
| Instruments | Piano, bass, drums, saxophones, trumpets, trombones |
| Notable big bands | Fletcher Henderson Orchestra, The Heartbeats (formerly The Heartstrings) |
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What You'll Learn
Big bands typically consist of 10-25 musicians
The size of a big band can vary, but they typically consist of 10 to 25 musicians. The style of music is defined by an ensemble of musicians, often referred to as a jazz orchestra, playing together. The big band era, also known as the swing era, was at its peak from the 1930s to the mid-1940s, though its history stretches across the first half of the 20th century.
Big bands usually consist of four sections: saxophones, trombones, trumpets, and a rhythm section. The rhythm section typically includes piano, bass, and drums, providing the driving beat of big band music. The horn sections, including saxophones, trombones, and trumpets, repeat simple harmonies, known as riffs, building a groove with the rhythm section.
The number of musicians in each section can vary, and some bands may feature smaller groups within the larger ensemble. For example, Benny Goodman, a prominent swing musician, developed a trio and a quartet within his big band. The size of the band can also depend on practical considerations, such as the size of the bandstand and the quality of the public address system.
The music of big bands is characterised by complex harmonies and syncopated rhythms. Individual singers and musicians often added their own melodic solos, while bandleaders would typically notate the parts they liked and include them in the composition. The individuality of the bandleader, the lead arranger, and the musicians themselves, often contributed to the unique style of each band.
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The band usually includes saxophones, trumpets and trombones
The big band era, also known as the swing era, was at its peak from the 1930s to the mid-1940s. A big band is a style of music defined by an ensemble of musicians, known as a jazz orchestra, playing together. The number of musicians in each section can vary, but it typically consists of 10 to 25 musicians.
A big band usually consists of four sections: saxophones, trumpets, trombones, and a rhythm section. The rhythm section is composed of piano, bass, and drums. The band is generally configured so that the lead parts are seated in the middle of their sections, and the solo parts are seated closest to the rhythm section. The 1st Trumpet is the leader of the entire horn section, while the Lead Alto and Lead Trombone are responsible for their sections matching the Lead Trumpet in terms of balance, phrasing, and intonation.
The saxophones, trumpets, and trombones are collectively referred to as 'horns'. The trumpets may double on flugelhorn or cornet, and saxophone players frequently double on other woodwinds such as flute, piccolo, clarinet, bass clarinet, or soprano saxophone. The seating arrangement is usually tiered, with the trombones a little higher than the saxophones and the standing trumpets projecting over the band.
The big band sound is characterised by complex harmonies and syncopated rhythms. Individual singers and musicians often improvised over the band with their melodic solos.
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Bandleaders are often also performers
In the context of big band music, which flourished in the early 1930s and rose to prominence with swing music, bandleaders played a significant part in defining the style. They would select musicians to form their bands and ensure they were ready to perform, sometimes also composing and arranging pieces for the group. During this era, bandleaders often played the lead instrument during performances, a practice rooted in the early development of jazz and big band music.
The role of the bandleader is to lead the group in performance, often while playing alongside them. They shape the music's dynamics, phrasing, and expression in rehearsals and may also manage other aspects of the band, such as organizing tours and sound recording sessions. They are responsible for selecting new songs for the group, particularly if it is a cover band or tribute band. Additionally, they handle the emotional and interpersonal dynamics of their players, smoothing over conflicts and ensuring that the music remains the top priority.
The bandleader must have a good general knowledge of the different parts played by all the rhythm section instruments (such as guitar, keyboards, and drums) and solo instruments (such as lead guitar and saxophone). This knowledge is essential for auditioning new members, leading rehearsals, and directing the band during performances. They set the tempo for each song, start each song, and lead the start of new sections.
While some contemporary bandleaders keep the old tradition alive by composing and arranging pieces for their chosen musicians, others work differently. For example, they may work for famous recording artists, selecting musicians for their touring band, or they may inherit an ensemble that has lost its direction. Some bandleaders work in television, leading house bands on late-night talk shows.
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The music is highly arranged and prepared in advance
The music played by big bands is typically highly ""arranged" or prepared in advance. Unlike smaller jazz combos, where most of the music is improvised, big band music is carefully planned and notated on sheet music. This sheet music is traditionally called "charts".
The arranger adapts the work of composers in a creative way for a performance or recording. Arrangers frequently notate all or most of the score of a given number. The arranger decides when improvised solos can be played. Individual singers and musicians often improvised over the band with their melodic solos, and bandleaders would typically notate the parts they liked and include them in the composition.
The big band era, also known as the swing era, was at its peak from the 1930s to the mid-1940s. During this time, big band music was dominated by complex harmonies and syncopated rhythms. The driving beat of big band music is built by a rhythm section composed of piano, bass, and drums. The horn sections continue these harmonic repetitions, building a groove alongside the rhythm section.
The music of the swing era was characterised by a more supple feel than the more literal 4/4 of early jazz. Swing music was distinguished by its relaxed, propulsive style, with prominent bandleaders including Count Basie, Benny Goodman, Bob Crosby, and Duke Ellington.
Big band music is unique from other forms of jazz. It is defined by an ensemble of musicians, known as a jazz orchestra, playing together. The jazz orchestra usually consists of four sections: saxophones, trombones, trumpets, and a rhythm section.
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The swing era, when big bands were most popular, lasted from the 1930s to the mid-1940s
The swing era is often associated with the appearance of Benny Goodman and his big band at the Palomar Ballroom in Los Angeles in August 1935. Goodman's band combined the ensemble style developed by Fletcher Henderson, the riff technique of Kansas City, and the precision and training of many white musicians. This blend of styles, along with the band's easy melodic quality and clean intonation, helped to "'sell' jazz to a mass audience." Goodman's success with "hot" swing sparked a wave of imitators and enthusiasts, propelling the swing era into full swing.
During the swing era, big bands typically consisted of 10 to 25 musicians, including a rhythm section composed of piano, bass, and drums, and horn sections with saxophones, trombones, and trumpets. The music featured complex harmonies and syncopated rhythms, with individual singers and musicians often improvising melodic solos over the band. The swing era also saw the rise of popular vocalists like Ella Fitzgerald, who joined the Chick Webb Orchestra in 1936, and Frank Sinatra, who became the star attraction of the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra in the early 1940s.
Towards the end of the 1930s, the roles of the piano, bass, and drums in the rhythm section changed under the influence of the Count Basie Orchestra. This shift increased the importance of the bass and guitar in timekeeping and lent greater freedom to the band's soloists, setting a trend that influenced the development of bebop. By the early 1940s, emerging trends in popular music and jazz began to signal the end of the swing era. Vocalists were becoming the star attractions of big bands, and some bands were moving away from the swing styles of the late 1930s for commercial and creative reasons.
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Frequently asked questions
A big band is a style of music defined by an ensemble of musicians, known as a jazz orchestra, playing together.
A big band typically consists of 10-25 musicians.
A jazz ensemble in a big band usually consists of four sections: saxophones, trombones, trumpets, and a rhythm section. The rhythm section is composed of piano, bass, and drums.
The Heartstrings, a Phoenix-based band founded at the One Step Beyond Institute, is known to have a varying number of musicians. The band initially included Jared Woosley on bass, Christi Bader on synth, and Jordan Barbee on drums. However, they have also performed at community events and festivals with a larger ensemble, including the School of Rock crew.
