John Coltrane as a composer
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1558/jazz.v2i2.133Keywords:
Coltrane, composer, composition, workAbstract
John Coltrane is mainly known as a jazz musician and excellent improviser, but he is also generally recognised as one of the great jazz composers. In this paper, an overview of Coltrane’s compositional works will be presented in the form of a comprehensive analysis of the composed themes of 55 selected recordings. These pieces have thoroughly been analysed regarding structure and form, harmony, rhythm and melody. The principal aim of this paper is to explore Coltrane’s basic compositional techniques. Regarding the main objective of this paper, the results of the overall musical analysis lead to the following categorisation: A. Blues pieces: pieces in common blues forms with the main characteristic of the subdominant in bar five. B. Pieces with functional harmony: functional relationship of chords with the main characteristic of a V7–I progression. C. Modal pieces: modal playing based on a few chords (or scales) without a V7–I functional relationship as main characteristic. The different types of Coltrane’s works, their specific characteristics and the applied compositional techniques will be demonstrated by discussing selected representative examples.
References
Coltrane, John, and Don DeMicheal (1979) ‘Coltrane on Coltrane’. Down Beat, July 12: 17 and 53 (reprint from September 29, 1960).
Demsey, David (1991) ‘Chromatic Third Relations in the Music of John Coltrane’. In Annual Review of Jazz Studies 5: 145–80. Metuchen, NJ: Scarecrow Press.
——(2003) ‘Coltrane Changes: John Coltrane’s Thirds Cycle Explorations’. In John Coltrane Plays Coltrane Changes, 3. Milwaukee, WI: Hal Leonard Corp. (= Artist Transcriptions Saxophone).
DeVito, Chris, David Wild, Yashiro Fujioka and Wolf Schmaler (2007) The John Coltrane Reference, ed. Lewis Porter. New York: Routledge.
Filtgen, Gerd, and Michael Außerbauer (1983) John Coltrane: Sein Leben, seine Musik, seine Schallplatten. Gauting-Buchendorf: Oreos (= Collection Jazz No. 1).
Hentoff, Nat (1965) Kulu Sé MaMa: John Coltrane. New York: Impulse Records (= LP liner notes).
Jost, Ekkehard (2002) Free Jazz: Stilkritische Untersuchungen zum Jazz der 1960er Jahre. Hofheim: Wolke.
Kernfeld, Barry (1983) ‘Two Coltranes’. In Annual Review of Jazz Studies 2: 7–66. New Brunswick, NJ and London: Transaction Books.
Parker, Charlie (1978) Charlie Parker Omnibook: Transcribed from His Recorded Solos. Hollywood, CA: Atlantic Music Corp.
Porter, Lewis (2001) John Coltrane: His Life and Music. Ann Arbor, MI: University of Michigan Press.
Priestley, Brian (1987) John Coltrane. London: Apollo Press. Putschögl, Gerhard (1993) John Coltrane und die afroamerikanische Oraltradition. Graz: Akademische Druck- und Verlagsanstalt (= Jazzforschung/Jazz Research No. 25).
Ravel, Maurice (n.d.) Pavane pour une infante défunte (Piano). Mainz: Edition Schott.
White, Andrew (n.d.) The Works of John Coltrane, Volumes 1 through 14: 701 Transcriptions of John Coltrane’s Improvisations. Washington, DC: Andrew’s Music Enterprises.
——(1979) ‘Solo Transcription’. Down Beat, July 12: 45–47.
——(1981) Trane ’n Me. Washington, DC: Andrew’s Music Enterprises.
