Abstract
Stefano Gullo
Main Subject Supervisor
Jazz Composition Loes Rusch
Title of Research
Keith Jarrett: The Köln Concert, re-composition for a big ensemble
Research Question
How can I write new repertoire based on the totally improvised concert by Keith Jarrett?
Summary of Research
As a composer, you are free to create, and often the melodic choices, the harmonic solutions are the result of something truly personal. The colors found within a piece are the representation of what the composer feels and wants to put on paper, he is free to express a concept without being bound by any kind of expectations or rules.
In this project, I am exploring the ways in which I can integrate and use Keith Jarrett’s improvisations as material for writinf for large jazz ensembles. To answer this question I learned about his life, his philosophy in music and how his musical style developed through the years, to get along with his musical idea and try to respect his first intention.
And to prepare myself for start writing the re-composition I analyzed the transcription of the Concert in Köln, seeing how he approached the improvisation and how he used the musical elements such as the construction of the melody, the use of the rhythm and the harmonic background; all elements that I used in my work.
The project demonstrates that even if is working on an improvisation, which offers such a varied material and is developed without an apparent fixed structure, it is possible to recreate compositions that have a coherence; also respecting the intention and the sound context that characterized that moment.
Biography
Stefano Gullo is a master student in jazz composition at the Royal Conservatoire of Den Haag. He focuses on composing and arranging for big ensembles. His attendance of some rehearsals of the Metropole Orkest motivated him to start two big ensembles: “Sinfollia” an orchestra based in Roma and “Bamboocha Drama” a Big Band based in Den Haag. The studies, the work and the inclination of his musical taste have led towards a variety of styles and musical expressions ranging from jazz to classical, always open to experiment and being open also to being influenced from popular music styles.