Improvisation and wisely borrowing from master’s ornaments. How to adapt playing techniques of other instruments on the Kamancheh

Abstract

The aim of this project is to develop my improvisational and compositional abilities by means of using the traditional method, which is based on imitating the masters` music. In this method not only I try to transcribe, memorize, and then play someone else's melody but also, I will give my own interpretation of a specific melody. The concept of melody in this type of music is a bit different, which we will discuss later. In this process, the basic elements of the desired music style should be considered. For example, in Iranian music, ornaments and embellishments play important roles and should be considered as the basic elements. Melody means a linear succession of musical tones which is a combination of pitch and rhythm, and are built of figures, motifs, and cells. Melodies can be combined to form periods and larger sections. The next step is to find an appropriate approach to make different techniques and elements playable on the Kamancheh. For example, how I can play the tremolo technique (played on plucked instruments) on the Kamancheh and how this interpretation will sound on this instrument. Performing the same phrase on the Kamancheh, which has already been played on another instrument, is a crucial part of this thesis. In the first two chapters, I have focused on Iranian music, and I took the phrases from Iranian masters. The last chapter focuses on jazz music and tries to bring jazz elements into the practice and incorporate them into the music. Obviously, constructing elements in jazz, like chord progressions differ completely from the ones which build modal based Iranian music. Of course, all the mentioned techniques and elements should lead me to improve my musical practice regardless of what I focus on. It can be the ornaments structures in Iranian music or a special chord progression in jazz music. The common point of the entire project is how I can improve my music by means of owning the strength of each genre and style.