Skip to main navigation menu Skip to main content Skip to site footer

Vol. 13 No. 32 (2022)
Challenges and opportunities for research in Music Education

Temática central

My Funny Valentine, Miles Davis, and the psychology of musical improvisation

https://doi.org/10.19053/22160159.v13.n32.2022.13020

Published 2022-01-01

  • David Hargreaves

David Hargreaves
University of Roehampton

Abstract

This article uses the well-known popular song My Funny Valentine and a particular recording of it by Miles Davis as the basis for an analysis of some psychological processes in musical improvisation and composition. It develops four main themes, including the ways in which improvising musicians are able to completely reinterpret the structure of a piece, and examines the implications of this for education and musical creativity. It also explores some of the processes underlying improvisation and assesses their educational implications.

Keywords

improvisation, mentoring, creativity, social collaboration, education

PDF (Español) HTML (Español) EPUB (Español) XML (Español)

References

  1. Altman, R. (2003). The Company [Film]. Sony Pictures Classics.
  2. Baker, C. (1956). Chet Baker Sings (featuring the Gerry Mulligan Quartet) [Album]. Blue Note Records.
  3. https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/my-funny-valentine/1132382413?i=1132383771
  4. Baker, J. (2000). Baroque Adagios [Album]. Decca Music Group Limited. https://itunes.apple.com/gb/
  5. album/dido-and-aeneas-when-i-am-laid-in-earth/79052807?i=79053196
  6. Bell, J., & Chenoweth, K. (2009). At Home with Friends [Album]. Sony Music Entertainment. https://
  7. itunes.apple.com/gb/album/my-funny-valentine/333297721?i=333297871
  8. Berkeley, B. (Dir). (1939). Babes in Arms [Film]. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.
  9. Bragalini, L. (1997). My Funny Valentine: The Disintegration of the Standard. Musica Jazz, 53(8-9-10), 52-55. http://www.plosin.com/milesAhead/Valentine.html
  10. Carr, I. (1999). Miles Davis: The definitive biography. HarperCollins Publishers.
  11. Costello, E. (2003). The Company [Album]. Sony BMG Music Entertainment https://itunes.apple.
  12. com/gb/album/my-funny-valentine/458915236?i=458915240
  13. Davis, M. (1958b). Milestones [Album]. Prestige.
  14. Davis, M. (1958c). Porgy and Bess [Album]. Prestige
  15. Davis, M. (1959). Kind of Blue [Album]. Columbia.
  16. Davis, M. (1960). Sketches of Spain [Album]. Columbia.
  17. Davis, M. (1981). We Want Miles [Album]. CBS.
  18. Davis, M. (1985). You’re Under Arrest [Album]. Columbia.
  19. Davis, M. (1986). Tutu [Album]. Warner Bros.
  20. Davis, M. (1958a). Jazz Innovation (Album). Delta. https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/my-funnyvalentine/
  21. ?i=669921750
  22. Davis, M. (1964). Funny Valentine in Concert (Live) [Album]. Sony BMG Music Entertainment. https://
  23. itunes.apple.com/gb/album/my-funny-valentine-in-concert-live/159070784
  24. Davis, M. (1965a). The Complete Concert 1964: My Funny Valentine + Four and More [Album]. Sony
  25. BMG Music Entertainment
  26. Davis, M. (1965b). My Funny Valentine The Complete Live at the Plugged Nickel [Album]. Sony
  27. Music Entertainment. https://music.apple.com/gb/album/the-complete-live-at-the-pluggednickel-
  28. /833078096
  29. Davis, M. (1965c). E. S. P. [Album]. Columbia.
  30. Davis, M. (1966). Miles Smiles [Album]. Columbia.
  31. Davis, M. (1967). Nefertiti [Album]. Columbia.
  32. Davis, M. (1968a). Miles in the Sky [Album]. Columbia.
  33. Davis, M. (1968b). Filles de Kilimanjaro [Album]. Columbia.
  34. Davis, M. (1969a). In a Silent Way [Album]. Columbia.
  35. Davis, M. (1969b). Bitches Brew [Album]. Columbia.
  36. Davis, M. (1970a). Jack Johnson [Album]. Columbia.
  37. Davis, M. (1970b). Live-Evil [Album]. Columbia.
  38. Davis, M., & Troupe, Q. (1989). Miles: The autobiography. Picador.
  39. Fitzgerald, E. (1956). Ella Fitzgerald Sings The Rodgers & Hart Songbook [Album]. Verve. https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/my-funny-valentine-stereo-version/1206414480?i=1206419825
  40. Friedwald, W. (2002). Stardust melodies: The biography of 12 of America’s most popular songs. Pantheon Books.
  41. Hargreaves, D., & Lamont. A. (2017). The psychology of musical development. Cambridge University DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781107281868
  42. Press.
  43. Harvard University. (2014, February 13). Herbie Hancock: The Ethics of Jazz | Mahindra Humanities Center [Video]. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPFXC3q1tTg
  44. Jane Monheit Fans. (2010). Jane Monheit performs “My Funny Valentine” with Joshua Bell. From Joshua Bell & Friends [Video]. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwIHEGBATJw&feature=youtucontrastsbetween.be
  45. Keith Jarrett Trio. (1988). Still Live [Album]. ECM Records. https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/stilllive/155953277
  46. Khan, C. (1983). Greatest Hits Live [Album]. Goldenlane Records. https://music.apple.com/gb/album/my-funny-valentine/278082499?i=278082510
  47. Kloves, S. (Dir). (1989). The Fabulous Baker Boys [Film]. Gladden Entertainment.
  48. Lee, R. (1983). Girl at her Volcano [Album]. Warner Bros. https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/my-funnyvalentine-
  49. live-at-roxy-los-angeles-ca-4-18-1982/494150645?i=494150902
  50. MacDonald, R., & Wilson, G. (2020). The art of becoming: How group improvisation works. Oxford University Press. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780190840914.001.0001
  51. MacDonald, R., Wilson, G., & Miell, D. (2012). Improvisation as a creative process within contemporary music. In D. Hargreaves, D. Miell, & R. MacDonald (Eds.), Musical imaginations. Oxford University Press. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199568086.003.0016
  52. Miranda Sex Garden. (1993). Suspiria [Album]. Mute Records Limited. https://music.apple.com/gb/
  53. album/suspiria/773115314
  54. Monelle, R. (2000). The sense of music: Semiotic essays. Princeton University Press.
  55. Purcell, H. (1683). Dido and Aeneas [Opera].
  56. Ronstadt, L. (1986). The ‘80s Collection [Album collection]. Rhino Entertainment. https://music.apple.
  57. com/gb/album/my-funny-valentine/878031416?i=878036324
  58. Sale, R. (Dir). (1955). Gentlemen Marry Brunettes [Film]. Russ-Field Productions.
  59. Sinatra, F. (1953). Classic Sinatra: His Great Performances 1953-1960 [Album]. Capitol Records. https://
  60. music.apple.com/gb/album/my-funny-valentine/730297130?i=730297207
  61. Smith, G. (1994). My Funny Valentine. In T. De Lisle (Ed.), Lives of the great songs. Pavilion.
  62. The Beatles. (1966). Revolver [Album]. Parlophone
  63. Williams, R. (1993). The man in the green shirt. Henry Holt and Company.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Similar Articles

<< < 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 > >> 

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.