JSngry Posted May 31, 2023 Report Share Posted May 31, 2023 https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/long-before-jazz-frank-johnson-was-playing-hottest-music-america-180981838/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kh1958 Posted May 31, 2023 Report Share Posted May 31, 2023 Very interesting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John L Posted May 31, 2023 Report Share Posted May 31, 2023 Nice article. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSngry Posted May 31, 2023 Author Report Share Posted May 31, 2023 I had never heard of this guy. Now I am intrigued. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miles65 Posted May 31, 2023 Report Share Posted May 31, 2023 I have this CD with his music for years now. Chestnut Brass Company and the track listing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSngry Posted May 31, 2023 Author Report Share Posted May 31, 2023 Yes, I heard some of that on YouTube. What has me ultimately wondering if this: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Johnson_(composer) Unfortunately, only reviews from newspaper critics, audience members and programs survive to tell of the sounds produced by Johnson. During this period, it was common to not write a complete score, since works were in such demand that this time-consuming task was best left as notes; the performers could more easily be taught to produce the desired sound. Arrangements were commonly published for amateurs in order to increase the demand for the original band or orchestra. Only surviving today are the piano arrangements requested by publishers, along with skeleton guides of Johnson's other arrangements. Johnson's elaborate and extended effects were apparently more important than his straightforward compositions. Foreshadowing the jazz era, his actual music was simple, allowing the composer to instruct the performers in developing more musically complex versions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Beat Steve Posted June 1, 2023 Report Share Posted June 1, 2023 It seems, then, that - seen from a jazz arranger's approach - with his "sketches" he had already "progressed" beyond later, fully written-out ragtime compositions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSngry Posted June 1, 2023 Author Report Share Posted June 1, 2023 What I have seen of his surviving scores, they would appear to be more "lead sheets" than actual "scores". Very interesting notion... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeweil Posted June 1, 2023 Report Share Posted June 1, 2023 I need to listen to this. Only one copy of the disc posted above on discogs, but several on amazon, for cheaper shipping rates. It cost me 33 bucks. Oh well ... the others go for higher prices. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rostasi Posted June 1, 2023 Report Share Posted June 1, 2023 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_forumlogo.png.a607ef20a6e0c299ab2aa6443aa1f32e.png)
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.