New tasks? The ideas in this new tasks page is prompted by my viewing a video recorded discussion with American legend Wynton Marsalis. One aspect of his ideas concerned a "responsibility" for the serious, creative artist. Simply put, Mr. Marsalis felt that innovations in the musical forms of American song would be an important aspect of the continued evolution of American music.
So the idea is to try and move things forward a bit eh? Maybe not for everybody, but for some, the search to expand existing forms and elements of an artistic style are just part of what they do. Art critics call them innovators. So our "new task" here is one of innovation? Exactly. Innovation of what? Well, of the existing creative efforts of what has come before us. Really, pretty daunting eh? Totally, is this idea another one of those awareness, food for thought pages? Pretty much.
So, while some folks set out to innovate a completely new element, such as Thomas Edison in creating the light bulb, others simply re-engineer existing forms as the need arises. This is what happened in writing the following tune, I was just trying to capture a certain quality of physical movement and my perceptions of my friends character. To capture my perspective of their essence in jazz sounds. It's title is "Tuxy" and here is the leadsheet for the music. Example 1.
So, what turned out to be the "new task" here? To expand the existing forms of composition? Yep. How? As the initial motive developed in writing this tune, the line organically "slipped" into the 12 bar blues form. A second theme was added and developed as an 8 bar bridge. To balance the piece, the first theme returns. So, basically A / A / B / A or sonata allegro form? Yep. But in "Tuxy", the A sections are 12 bars and follow the general trend of the basic 1 / 4 / 5 / 12 bar blues form, not the usual 8 bar A section of sonata allegro. So, isn't this simply a merging of the two important American forms? 12 bar blues and 32 bar A / A / B / A? Tis is indeed the case. Thus the "new tasking" here is in regards to the innovation of compositional form, and that by expanding the form for musical composition, new artistic directions may evolve.
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"It is unbecoming for young men to utter maxims." Aristotle (384-322 B.C.)
