On the Interaction of Polyphony and Jazz

On the Interaction of Polyphony and Jazz

Abstract

This project explores the mechanisms of an interaction between the classical fugue form and jazz idiom. The goal of the work is to systematically analyze both classical and jazz works based on the principles of strict counterpoint and jazz harmonic and rhythmic language. The first and main part of the study is aimed at developing a theoretical framework: based on an extensive historical and stylistic analysis (from Baroque origins to contemporary jazz experiments), methods for adapting imitative techniques to the jazz context and ways of their symbiosis are identified. The particular attention is paid to the concept of quasi-improvisation as a means of combining and capturing jazz spontaneity and strict polyphonic structure. The practical outcome of the project will be the author’s own testing of the identified patterns: the creation, arrangement, and studio recording of three original compositions. The subsequent methodological commentary on these compositions will help fill a gap in the relevant literature of the musical field. The work has practical value for educational courses in polyphony, composition, and the history of jazz, and also offers the performer a new methodological path for integrating academic discipline into creative practice.

Publication Date

7-1-2026

Campus

Valencia (Spain) Campus

Keywords

Style interaction; polyphonic jazz; jazz counterpoint; jazz fugue; composition.

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With Distinction

On the Interaction of Polyphony and Jazz

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