Choral Arranging...the more I do , the more I learn

• Posted by Karen Boyce April 20, 2014 - Filed in Other - 1,601 views

  I think I’ve started a new project that is going to keep me learning new musical skills for a long time…..

  I love working on choral arrangements, however the more I do and the more I think about them, the more I actually learn. I am extremely lucky to have a choir to try these arrangements out on. The Hutt Valley Singers and Musical Director Joanne Roelofs are so supportive of my work. They put in a lot of effort trying to learn the songs I arrange and to sing them well. Many of the choir members aren’t familiar with the songs I have chosen to work on.

  I have a couple of songs being performed next month as part of a broadway concert. Don’t Rain on My Parade from Funny Girl arranged for SATB with flute and piano and the other is a Gershwin favourite Someone to Watch Over Me arranged for SATB with improvised piano.

  Things I’ve learnt with these two arrangements are:

  1.  Writing for tenor is the part I struggle with the most
  2.  Writing for piano isn’t easy despite being a pianist first and foremost!
  3. I need to get better at using Sibelius so my scores look better each time. Hairpins and slur uniformity is something I need to get better at
  4.  Major 2nds are a mental challenge for a chorister
  5. Planning the piece and how to arrange it is a huge part in the process.
  6.  It’s difficult to know when the piece is finished and when to stop tweaking it. If the choir were to buy a score that would be complete (and edited!).
  7. Having feedback from the Musical Director and Choristers is wonderful. Learning first hand what works, what needs adjusting and what they like is invaluable.

  So with all these aha moments I have decided to purchase a couple of arranging texts which should become great resources and companions for me.

   

  Choral Arranging (expanded editioin) by Hawley Ades published by Shawnee Press published in 1966.

  It’s still in available so that’s a good sign. It is described as aunique book that authoritatively discusses how to create effective vocal arrangements and techniques in virtually every major kind of vocal ensemble; sacred, secular and Baroque to jazz. Contains more than 270 illustrated examples, plus an index, study suggestions and a comprehensive bibliography. Hawley Ades had many years experience arranging for choral groups and is particularly known as the long-time arranger for Fred Waring and his Pennslyvanians. As a standard text in the field, Choral Arranging is a must for home or class study and a valued reference source for every music library.

   

  A Capella Arranging by Deke Sharon and Dylan Bell. Hal Leonard Books; Pap/Com edition (November 1, 2012).

  Deke Sharon is known colloquially as “the father of contemporary a cappella.” Arguably one of the best-known and most prolific a cappella arrangers in the world, with over 2,000 arrangements to his credit, Sharon founded the Contemporary A Cappella Society of America. He is also the arranger and producer of NBC’s The Sing-Off, was the music director on Pitch Perfect, and has arranged music for The Social Network. Dylan Bell is a world-renowned vocal arranger, performer, producer, and instructor. His award-winning arrangements have been sung around the world by vocal groups from Ann Arbor to Zurich. Bell has written for some of the finest a cappella groups in the world, including the Nylons and the Swingle Singers. He also regularly contributes articles to the Contemporary A Cappella Society of

  America.

   

  It was all very simple to purchase these books from the other side of the world however….the downside of living in New Zealand is paying for freight and being patient while they are shipped. Can’t wait to read them and learn new skills!

  In the meantime my next project is Fields of Gold by Sting for a concert to be performed in August.  I’ll let you know how that goes!