[Dixielandjazz] Obbligato v Solo

[Bill Gunter]

Hello all,

Anton Crouch sent us several paragraphs (cited from Grove) concerning the 
nature of the obbligato in music.  This is all general information and 
doesn't shed much light on the original question.

The original question???  Oh yes, I remember now - it was over a specific 
piece of music.

I believe Russ Guarino posted something about the "clarinet solo" in the 
compositon "High Society."

My response was that it was probably more correctly referred to as an 
"obbligato" rather than a "solo." (Notice my use of the terms "probably" and 
"more correctly" used as qualifiers - I dislike absolutes).

Here are my reasons:

1. A "solo" means "alone" -- since the clarinet part in question is played 
above the main theme of the song it is obviously not a "solo."

2. It has become a standard part in the composition to the point where if it 
were omitted from a performance its omission would be noted by others -- 
hence one is virtually 'obligated' to play the damn thing!

3. I don't believe the meaning of the term "obbligato" has degenerated to 
the point where it means anything you play in counterpoint to the melody 
(i.e. - the clarinet noodling around during an ensemble chorus).  -- If a 
word means anything you want it to mean then it no longer means anything.

However, over and above these points. I do believe that Russ Guarino does 
have a valid point. The clarinet part in "High Society" is often played by 
itself (without the accompanying principal theme) during a performance in 
which case it does indeed become a "solo." But - it has become such a 
standard part of the tune that it virtually stands alone in its importance! 
Nevertheless, it is still an "obbligato."

There are other terms we use (counterpoint, quotation, descant, etc.) that 
refer to additional musical lines being added to the main thrust of the 
melody which aren't as rigidly set as the obbligato. The performer can play 
pretty much any musical line in a descant as long as it fits. Whereas the 
obbligato must be played in its essential form .

Consider the piccolo part in "Stars and Stripes Forever" -- If the 
piccoloist were to play some other sequence of notes during that famous 
section of the composition he'd be run outa town on a rail!

If the piccolo part is played all by itself, without the accompanying 
principal theme it would definitely be a solo but it would also definitly be 
recognized as belonging to that particular Sousa composition.

To further emphasize the "obbligato" nature of the part, if you were to play 
it as a "quotation" in some other composition, the savvy listener would 
immediately recognize it as an essential part of the original composition.

Respectfully submitted,

Bill "sorta picky" Gunter
jazzboard at hotmail.com







>From: Anton Crouch <anton.crouch at optusnet.com.au>
>To: DJML <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
>Subject: [Dixielandjazz] Obbligato v Solo
>Date: Tue, 03 May 2005 11:00:30 +1000
>
>Hello all
>
>Bill G does a good line in 'picky, picky ... ' and more strength to his arm
>for it.
>
>BUT...  "obbligato" is more than just necessary - it's a particular type of
>"necessary".
>
>Yes, confusing. The brief article in New Grove 2 says, in part:
>
>'An adjective or noun referring to an essential instrumental part. The term
>is often used for a part ranking in importance just below the principal
>melody and not to be omitted. Obbligato is the opposite of Ad libitum when
>the latter qualifies the mention of a part in a title ..... Used in
>connection with a keyboard part in the 18th century, obbligato designated a
>fully written-out part instead of a figured bass. Sometimes obbligato means
>simply independent ...
>
>In music for voice with instruments, ‘obbligato’ refers to a prominent
>instrumental part in an aria or other number. The archetype of the
>obbligato part is the instrumental solo which, with a basso continuo,
>constitutes the accompaniment of vast numbers of late Baroque arias.'
>
>In the above, the mention of "voice" is useful for discussion in a jazz
>context.
>
>I'd offer the following:
>
>The trumpet accompaniment in a classic vocal blues performance is clearly
>"obbligato" trumpet. The trumpet part, when the singer is silent, is
>ambiguous - I think it can best be described as "solo".
>
>Russ G's use of "obligato" as '... the general background movement of the
>clarinet during full  ensemble or backing up other instruments' is entirely
>reasonable.
>
>The famous clarinet part in "High Society" may now be necessary for
>performance purposes, but it is not necessary musically - it is a "solo"
>
>I'm not being picky   :-)
>Anton
>
>
>
>
>
>_______________________________________________
>Dixielandjazz mailing list
>Dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com
>http://ml.islandnet.com/mailman/listinfo/dixielandjazz