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2007-08-25: Carol Attends The Russ Garcia Arranging/Composing Workshop    

Gina Garcia / Russ Garcia / Carol Worthey
Russ Garcia's famous book!

Famous Arranger/Orchestrator/Composer Russ Garcia gave a delightful and enlightening Arranging/Composing Workshop on August 25th, 2007 that was sponsored by ASMAC (American Society of Music Arrangers & Composers) and hosted by the Musicians Union, Local 47 in Hollywood. Russ is known not only for his many outstanding jazz and big band arrangements, but also for his evocative film scores (including one for the sci fi movie "The Time Machine") as well as his major symphonic works performed all over the world. His background in Oakland where there were two sixty-five-piece youth orchestras in his High School was perfect to give him hands-on experience at a young age--Carol wishes there were music programs like that in today's schools. Russell worked for major motion picture companies when they had superb in-house orchestras at the ready. At one point Russ met for three hours with Dmitri Shostakovich (a compassionate and warm person who was always in fear for his life back in his native land), and he knew Stravinsky (who he says had a marvelous sense of humor) when Stravinsky lived in Los Angeles. Although Russ quit college when the professors were more interested in teaching out of books than in practical knowhow (he had already been arranging and composing with ease, skill and imagination for years), Russell Garcia is now a Professor in a Chinese University where he says the students are wonderfully attentive. Among the Who's Who he has arranged for are Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Mel Torme and Stan Kenton. Russ also studied with the likes of Ernst Krenek, worked with Henry Mancini and learned enough about composing strict Twelve Tone Rows to be able to follow or break the rules effectively. Russ spoke at length to us about the masterful composing methods of Bela Bartok (another composer whose sense of humor Russ noted) and how Bartok’s rhythmic sense related to Bach and to us today; Hindemith was another example of the link between music, mathematics and Bach--yes, we agree, Bach swings. Russ imparted to us that melody and harmony and counterpoint are not really separate subjects but are linked inextricably--Carol Worthey concurs wholeheartedly with this approach. Russell and his beautiful wife Gina now live in New Zealand so this workshop was a unique chance to meet and hear him in person. Russ still has more work than he can take on--his youthful, unpretentious and refreshing attitude combines practical wisdom, dry wit, and optimism.

The Russ Garcia workshop was a rare opportunity to get insights into the shaping of effective music from an absolute master--who happens to be one of the funniest anecdote-tellers in the entertainment industry! Russ autographed Carol’s copy of his book with the words: "Hey Carol!  Keep making byutiful music!" Carol shares his philosophy of "keep it simple and playable and give all the instruments something they will enjoy playing." In particular Carol enjoyed hearing about Russ' concept of "rhythmic curves", a method of thinking which involves using rhythmic structures to create a sense of unification and diversity within the same piece--the technical explanation of this is beyond the scope of this writeup but is well worth investigating. Carol Worthey heartily recommends Russ' classic book The Professional Arranger Composer published by Criterion Music Corporation.

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