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Night Music (Compositions, Performance And Improvisations) –And– Developing A Chromatic-Intervallic Approach To Jazz Improvisation Through Reflexive Practice. An Exegesis, Jamie Oehlers

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

This research examines the processes involved in developing and applying a novel melodic jazz improvisation technique—a chromatic-intervallic approach (CIA). Improvised melodic approaches in jazz music from the 1920s until today have primarily been driven through the development of tension within melody lines by using variations of the scale/chord method and harmonic substitution. The CIA examined through my saxophone and improvisatory practice in this research explores the incorporation of melodies derived from intervallic combinations, and assesses the resulting tension within the melody through the use of the Melodic Tension Rating tool; a tool created through the research period of this study. …