So what exactly is arranging? It is not composing in that the basic material already exists, although it might be about to undergo massive transformation. Many people mix up arranging with transcribing. Were I to take, for example, a Mozart string quartet movement and rewrite the parts for guitar this would simply be transcription – even if I changed the key (transposition) to a more suitable one for multiple guitars. Transcription is an art in itself but it is more to do with accuracy than creativity. Continue reading Arranging 2
Category Archives: Arranging
Arranging 1
Instructors running ensembles have two basic choices when it comes to finding suitable music – buying or writing arrangements. My personal preference is to write them, for the following reasons:
- Economy – this saves departments (i.e. the public purse) a fortune
- The levels of difficulty can be more finely tuned* Continue reading Arranging 1
I’m A Heterophonist, Get Me Out Of Here
Around this time of year (and also at Christmas) I like to invite enthusiastic P7 pupils to perform in concert with the Guitar Group in Musselburgh Grammar School – the only cluster in which I visit feeder primary schools. The idea is to Continue reading I’m A Heterophonist, Get Me Out Of Here