After several pages of comments on who's the best arranger I began to think about what the benefits are for arranging for a good band. Arrangers are sometimes over glorified becuase of the band that they are writing for. So i would like to know, does the band enhance the arrangement? Or is the arranger so good that you can't tell that the band really sucks??
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The arranger is important, but it is the job of the director to really play the middle man and somehow relate the ideas of the arranger to the band members executing the arrangement. In the end, the band is going to carry out the fundamentals that are passed down by the director.
Let's take a look at Paul Adams and his arrangement of "PYT." Jackson State and Norfolk State both play the exact same arrangement, yet it sounds different. A lot of that can be credited to the voicing. NSU has more woodwinds than JSU, so you hear a difference in sound there, and the percussion is a lot different. A tonal section will usually sound brighter than a traditional (or funky) section.
Give that same arrangement to FAMU, and it'd sound totally different because they've all been trained by the director to see certain rhythmic figures and articulate them a certain way.
Thats why i like to direct my own arrangements....not taking away from the person who didn't arrange it directing it,but the person who wrote it knows how they intended for it to be played, and you just can't get that from anybody else
Master of Disguise said:
I think it’s both, but I’m leaning more towards the arranger side! I personally witnessed almost the same 2004 ala st. marching band make a complete reciprocal over the summer of 2005. Not giving K.D. all the credit because he had a whole marching hornet family behind him...but I have to say the man didn’t take any bullshyt out them horns! Also depends on if the arranger is directing, and if not did the director get the message from the arranger on where he/she was trying to go with the arrangment?...
Is it the arranger or the band the arranger writes for??
After several pages of comments on who's the best arranger I began to think about what the benefits are for arranging for a good band. Arrangers are…
Arrangers are key in that they architect the sound you're about to hear but the band executes it. But there are two important points I want to make.
An okay arrangement can be enhanced by a band.(i.e. if a 45 piece high school plays a song then 450 college plays the same song...also the band could add flavor or style that was not originally conceived)
A good arranger cannot hide a band that sucks. This is where the music comes to life. This is the medium. If the medium isn't good you can't hide the medium...although I think it's possible to hear an arrangement was written pretty nice but not effectively executed
An arrangement that works for one band might not work the same way for another band, no matter how good the arrangement is. It basically lies in the interpretation of the piece that is being played.
Quick suggestion. Take a listen to the marches that are played. Those are generally the most standard arrangements that are played across the board. I believe that most bands play the exact same arrangements of these marches. But for some reason, you will notice a few differences here and there when you listen to different bands.
The Difference between the marches and our arrangers is that.. The arranger doesnt always put the proper mark ups to tell you how the part should be played . PVSax99 said:
I agree with what yall are saying. An arrangement that works for one band might not work the same way for another band, no matter how good the arrangement is. It basically lies in the interpretation of the piece that is being played. Quick suggestion. Take a listen to the marches that are played. Those are generally the most standard arrangements that are played across the board. I believe that most bands play the exact same arrangements of these marches. But for some reason, you will notice a few differences here and there when you listen to different bands.
Is it the arranger or the band the arranger writes for??
After several pages of comments on who's the best arranger I began to think about what the benefits are for arranging for a good band. Arrangers are…
man.. my post got messed up was still editing it .. i deleted it ...but hey u quoted the basic info...
ur right.. but when that arranger is not around to teach.. the director has to teach what he see's and then Tell the how he thinks it should be played ... Either that.. Thats where the Sudents Embark on the Usage of CREATIVE FREEDOM! lol
lol..
RJ1919 said:
An arranger than knows what he or she wants does.
The Book said:
The Difference between the marches and our arrangers is that.. The arranger doesnt always put the proper mark ups to tell you how the part should be played . PVSax99 said:
I agree with what yall are saying. An arrangement that works for one band might not work the same way for another band, no matter how good the arrangement is. It basically lies in the interpretation of the piece that is being played. Quick suggestion. Take a listen to the marches that are played. Those are generally the most standard arrangements that are played across the board. I believe that most bands play the exact same arrangements of these marches. But for some reason, you will notice a few differences here and there when you listen to different bands.
Is it the arranger or the band the arranger writes for??
After several pages of comments on who's the best arranger I began to think about what the benefits are for arranging for a good band. Arrangers are…
Replies
IMO, you cant give a SWAC arragement to a MEAC band and expect them to play it the same as the SWAC band played it.. Even if under the same Director..
its also why the Honda BOTB's Mass Band has a FAMU-ISH sound.. lol
lol @ FAMU-ISH
the arranger is the alley and the band is the OOOOOOP!!
lol
Good analogy.
Let's take a look at Paul Adams and his arrangement of "PYT." Jackson State and Norfolk State both play the exact same arrangement, yet it sounds different. A lot of that can be credited to the voicing. NSU has more woodwinds than JSU, so you hear a difference in sound there, and the percussion is a lot different. A tonal section will usually sound brighter than a traditional (or funky) section.
Give that same arrangement to FAMU, and it'd sound totally different because they've all been trained by the director to see certain rhythmic figures and articulate them a certain way.
Master of Disguise said:
An okay arrangement can be enhanced by a band.(i.e. if a 45 piece high school plays a song then 450 college plays the same song...also the band could add flavor or style that was not originally conceived)
A good arranger cannot hide a band that sucks. This is where the music comes to life. This is the medium. If the medium isn't good you can't hide the medium...although I think it's possible to hear an arrangement was written pretty nice but not effectively executed
An arrangement that works for one band might not work the same way for another band, no matter how good the arrangement is. It basically lies in the interpretation of the piece that is being played.
Quick suggestion. Take a listen to the marches that are played. Those are generally the most standard arrangements that are played across the board. I believe that most bands play the exact same arrangements of these marches. But for some reason, you will notice a few differences here and there when you listen to different bands.
The Book said:
ur right.. but when that arranger is not around to teach.. the director has to teach what he see's and then Tell the how he thinks it should be played ... Either that.. Thats where the Sudents Embark on the Usage of CREATIVE FREEDOM! lol
lol..
RJ1919 said:
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