Transcript AS Music Technology

Creating Simple
Arrangements
What is Arranging…?
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Arranging
“Taking an existing piece of music and changing it in some
way for a performance.”
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Composing
“Writing a new piece of music from scratch”
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When you arrange a piece of music you try to adapt / change
it to suit a different scenario. You can do this by changing
different things:
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Instruments / Ensemble
Rhythms / Style / Groove
Tempo
Texture
Tonality
etc…
How I Wonder…
• Listen to this MIDI file and watch the
music below.
• This is the original tune played on it’s
own.
Twinkle, Twinkle…
• Now listen to the following simple
arrangement of this tune.
• Notice the two distinct styles used and that
the 12 bar tune is heard 3 times.
• EACH 12 BARS IS DIFFERENT
How Do I Start… (1)
• Start with a simple tune and find out what chords
to use with each bar:
• Click here to see a ‘leadsheet’ of Twinkle Twinkle
Little Star.
• Now watch and listen to this arrangement of the
tune in Sibelius.
• Pay particular attention to how the tune has been
changed and adapted so as not to become
repetitive.
How Do I Start… (2)
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Always start by entering the melody in the style you want it to begin with.
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Now add the chords to suit the style.
(DON’T JUST ENTER SEMIBREVES)
– You could use broken chords
– You could put the chords into a suitable rhythm.
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Next add a bass line – this should be based around the bottom note of the
chord (the root note)
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Finally, add a counter-melody – a new tune to go with the main melody.
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Once you have the first playing of the tune, start again but change the order
of things.
– A new instrument playing the tune
– Change the key
– Change the tempo / rhythms used
– Maybe change the dynamics…
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VARY YOUR ARRANGEMENT BY CHANGING THE USE OF MUSICAL
ELEMENTS – THEY ARE THE FOUNDATION OF ALL MUSIC.
Folk Tune Task
• Look at the Folk Tune Book for ideas – pick one of
the Folk Tunes and create a simple arrangement
based on the melody and chords given.
• Your arrangement should…
– Use the melody 3 times  about 36 bars long
– Include at between 5 & 7 instruments
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One must be a melody line
One must play some chords
One must play a bass line
One must be a percussion line
• Don’t forget to vary the melody and style of the piece
each time you repeat it. If you don’t the arrangement
will start to sound very repetitive.
Arrangement Task Help
• Look at the Folk Tune Book for ideas
• Use all the ideas discussed today and look at the
Sibelius Arrangements Handout
• If you are unsure of your notes and what rests to
use etc…
Have a look at the Arranging Guide
• If you decide to include drums, have a look at the
Drum Notation handout for ideas of how to write
some basic rhythms and where different drums
are written.