Arrangement
A reworking of a piece of music so that it can be played by a different instrument or combination of instruments from the original
"Arrangement" in music refers to the art of taking an existing musical piece and reworking it to fit a new context, style, or instrumentation. It involves making creative decisions about how to adapt and modify various elements of the original composition while preserving its essence.
When creating an arrangement, musicians or composers consider factors such as instrumentation, tempo, rhythm, harmony, dynamics, and overall structure. The goal is to transform the original piece into something that suits the intended purpose or ensemble while maintaining recognizable elements that listeners can connect to.
Arrangements can vary in complexity, from straightforward adaptations to elaborate reimaginings that showcase the arranger's artistic vision. They are commonly used in a variety of musical genres and contexts. For example, an arrangement might involve adapting a pop song for a classical orchestra, reinterpreting a jazz standard for a vocal ensemble, or transforming a traditional folk melody into a contemporary electronic track.
Arrangers often work closely with performers to ensure that the new arrangement is well-suited to the abilities and strengths of the musicians. Through arrangement, musicians have the opportunity to breathe new life into familiar tunes, explore different musical possibilities, and create fresh and captivating performances.
Example of Arrangement
Terminology Information
Vocabulary Category
Related Terms
Dictionary
Other Terms
Tutor's Video (Cecilia Chan)
Tutors
Articles
Ludwig van Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven, German composer, the predominant musical figure during the transition between the Classical to Romantic eras. He occupies an unprecedented dominance in the history of Western music history, and has been widely regarded as the greatest, most influential and most popular musician who ever lived.
Beethoven's music inherited the artistic atmosphere of Haydn and Mozart, penetrated the desire for dignity, vented the anger tortured by fate, and demonstrated his determination to fight with fate.
Compared to other musicians, Beethoven is effectively to interact the philosophy of life with audience through music. Although he was not a romantic, he had become the object followed by other romantics.
As a musician, Beethoven suffered from ear diseases. However, he was unwilling to succumb to fate, vowing to take fate by the throat, and continue to complete his career. In the last ten years of his life, without hearing any sound, his compositions influenced the development of music for nearly two hundred years.
Canon in D
