Dynamic Plan Guidelines - Region 16动态规划指南区.doc

Region 16 Fall Seminar September 2012
Creating a Dynamic Plan
Look at the “elevation” of the melody (mostly lead) to determine the general outline
of the dynamic plan. Generally speaking, as the melody ascends, the volume should increase. As the melody descends (especially at and below middle C for leads), the volume should decrease. The same is true of the overall elevation of the chords. The higher and “tighter” the chord, the more likely you are to choose loud.
Chord voicing has a direct impact on the “singability” of the dynamic plan. Overall, it’s easier to sing louder on closed rather than open voicing. This, of course, is totally dependent on the “elevation” of each part.
Lyrics will have an impact on dynamic choices after the decisions have been made musically. The classic example of the music and lyrics being at odds with one another (and the music “wins”) is the line in “White Cliffs of Dover,”...“baby, don’t you cry,” where the elevation of the melody (and the voicing) guides the singer to choose a solid crescendo, in spite of the tender lyrics. (In this case, if you wanted the lyrics to “win” and have the ascending vocal line be soft, the difficulty factor for executing that vocal line would at least double…if not triple.)
The tessitura of each part constantly has to be factored into the plan.
low lead: does not support overall loud volumes
low bass: d