7425 / 18210 · Workshop 57 — “Mack the Knife” Arranging Laboratory: From Two-Beat Cabaret to Swing, Walking Bass, Stride, Block Chords, Modulation, Latin, Funk, Ballad, Minor Reharm, and Full Performance Architecture← prev⊞ allnext →
57.67Alternative “bright-to-dark” architecture
Opposite:
start jaunty swing.
Gradually add:
blue notes
minor-IV
chromatic bass.
At final chorus:
switch to C minor.
End quietly.
This reminds the listener that the song's subject is considerably darker than the cheerful music suggests.
Very effective conceptually.