Assignment #4

Instructions:  “House of the Rising Sun” was originally done by a rock group called “The Animals” in a contemporary, yet traditional “blues shouter” style.   This particular arrangement was done by a “disco”/D.J.  group known as “Rage”.  Except for the main melody, the whole arrangement is based on a series of fairly simple “ostinatos”.  However, when put together, they make a very interesting and “fun” version of this 1960’s rock “classic”.  You can keep this assignment fairly simple, or go “all out” in its complexity, that is up to you.  Even though this version of the song is in Bb minor, I added the fifth “flat” just to give you a little practice in reading that key signature.

                An “ostinato” is just another name for short harmonic or rhythm patterns (normally in the bass line) repeated over and over again.  Due to the “layered construction” of these repeated patterns, I am presenting this arrangement to you in the format of a “performance script” (mostly due to the length of the arrangement).  In your “performance script” you are given specific instructions on when each part should enter.  It would probably be a good idea to listen to the 2017 recording project of the Goodwin Elementary School’s electric keyboard “Tech. Ensemble, to get a good overview of how this arrangement fits together.  After a “special effects” introduction, it will follow as written (with the repeats), but you will have to listen (on your own) carefully for when the first “ostinato” part enters.  In that recording we used three different soloists, cumulatively.  That means, as each new soloist was added, the other solo performers did not drop out, but continued to develop their own improvisation solos.  Listening to the “Tech. Ensemble’s” recording, you will also notice that the solo improvisation(s) continued throughout the second statement of the main melody, AND, there is a brief solo “cadenza” during the “fade out” ending.   This occurs right after the “Animal’s” original sustained “9^th” chord is performed by the “jazz organist” player.

                One nice thing about this version of “House of the Rising Sun” is that it gives plenty of time for you (or a series of soloists) to work on your Bb minor “blues” scale.  Using the free recording and editing software “Audacity”, you might want to “import” the Bb MP3 version/background, and then (using headphones) record into it your own instrumental solo.  Or, if you are really ambitious, you could record (on separate tracks) each of the “ostinato” entrance’s, adjusting, looping, and editing them as needed.  Also, for a bit of “variety”, as the improvisation section develops, you can “re-enter” the “ostinato” entrances in an entirely different order.  In a sense, you are “mixing” your own arrangement for this song.  If you are playing along with the Bb MP3 version for the “fun of it”, you could just go right down your script and play each “ostinato” part as they enter, until you get to the “vamp for solos” section.  Either way, have fun and “keep ‘jammin’”.