Big Band And Swing: Woodwinds in Big Band and Swing

With the ever-present economic struggles of the Great Depression dominating the time period of the 1930’s “one would expect that big bands would have become less viable economically, but ironically the opposite occurred.” (Bogdanov) In these big bands that flourished during the swing era, woodwinds played a prominent role in the distinct style of the times. The instruments are characterized by the vibration of a reed, a thin strip of wood, when a musician blows through the mouthpiece and the different combinations of pressing down keys on the instrument to create pitch. The saxophones and clarinets were utilized in supporting roles or solo parts of many of the songs which provided the band with a warm, reedy sound to compliment that of the other instruments. Where the woodwind instruments are said to lack in volume they make up for in technical prowess.

Generally, a lead alto, second alto, first tenor, second tenor, and a bari sax would make up the woodwind section of a band but the number can vary from three to six. Often the musicians would double on other instruments such as clarinet, flute or soprano sax when it was called for in a particular arrangement. In the style of Big Bands, “multiple soloists might be expected to take over and improvise their own part; however, it was not unusual to have two or three band members improvising at any one time” (Sheldon) as demonstrated in different performances of “In the Mood.” Tenor sax and clarinet are most associated with impressive, improvised solos. As musicians in a tough economy, it is likely that many sax and clarinet players encountered some monetary struggles when it came to maintaining their instrument and acquiring reeds for gigs. “Interestingly, for many groups, high wages was not the primary concern so long as they felt that the music was good and the band leader was being fair in how much he paid his musicians.” The popularity of swing music was assisted by radio and raised the spirits of both musicians and audiences alike. This was a time “when influential clarinetists were household names.” (Bogdanov) One such clarinetist was Benny Goodman, also known as the King of Swing. His skills are showcased in recordings of the hit song “Sing, Sing, Sing.” He is often proclaimed to be one of the most popular clarinetists to have ever lived. Between the clarinet and many saxophones, the importance of woodwinds in big bands cannot be disputed.

“Much of the appeal of big bands had to do with the instrumentation that filled the entire sonic spectrum, from the string bass anchoring the low end to the clarinets, trumpets, and piano defining the highest limits of the music’s range” (Hasse) Although the swing era has come and gone, the impact of the musicians remains today as a reminder of the role big band music played in the time of the Great Depression.