91424 - ARRANGING

EXEMPLARS OF STUDENT WORK

EXCELLENCE EXEMPLAR

For Excellence, the student needs to create two convincing arrangements for an ensemble.

This involves showing:

• skilful, imaginative, and idiomatic writing for specific instruments and/or voices

• musical character and imagination.

This student has used the original source material of Teddy Bear’s Picnic (arr. string quartet) and Nokia ringtone (arr. wind quartet). These are convincing arrangements for two contrasting ensembles. They are both imaginatively and skilfully written yet maintain the integrity of the original thematic material. The student is also able to weave a sense of quirk and character within both arrangements.

The introduction to Teddy Bears’ Picnic immediately captures the listener’s attention with a sense of space and anticipation together with an indication of the interesting harmonies to follow (bars 17-20). There is idiomatic string writing with appropriate use of a variety of techniques including pizzicato, arco, glissando and tremolo.

Textual and timbral variety is explored, for example, between bars 60-77 top strings and bottom strings alternate themes together with a variety of solo and duo passages. The score is well crafted, with attention to detail in the use of articulation and dynamic markings.

Ringtonius Sonerous follows similar conventions to create a cohesive and imaginative arrangement. All instruments are treated idiomatically and with timbral and textural variety. Call and response and harmonic shifts create continual interest and build up the music to a satisfying conclusion.

For a more secure Excellence, the student could further explore counter-melodies in Ringtonius Sonerous in order for the arrangement to be fully convincing.

MERIT EXEMPLAR

For Merit, the student needs to create two effective arrangements for an ensemble.

This involves:

• using instrument ranges and playing techniques for expressive effect

• applying instrumental combinations and timbres creatively

• showing skill in combining and structuring musical ideas

• controlling textural density.

This student has created arrangements from original source material of: Minuet 2 (arr. clarinet, double bass and piano) and Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star (arr. string quartet).

The jazz feel of Minuet 2 is immediately captured by the piano introduction. Textural density is controlled but not overly utilised. Arpeggios throughout the piano part create expressive effect. The clarinet part is within range and suits the use of syncopated writing. Playing techniques have been well thought out, particularly articulation, dynamics and phrase markings.

Holistically, Twinkle lifts these exemplars into a higher Merit range. The student effectively alters the key (to minor) and time signature of the original. The 12/8 pulse set up from the introduction is maintained by the use of a pizzicato ostinato figure which appears throughout.

The ostinato is shared between the viola and cello while the violins largely share the melody line as stylistically appropriate to string quartet writing. There is an effective use of rests to create textual interest and anticipation. Further, the incorporation of new material has been well managed. 

To reach Excellence, the student could tidy up some incongruent harmonies in both arrangements and pay additional consideration to the bass part in Minuet2, which would allow this effective work to be more convincing.

MERIT EXEMPLAR

For Merit, the student needs to create two effective arrangements for an ensemble.

This involves:

• using instrument ranges and playing techniques for expressive effect

• applying instrumental combinations and timbres creatively

• showing skill in combining and structuring musical ideas

• controlling textural density.

This student has created arrangements from original source material of Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen and Summertime.

The arrangements are effective and generally all parts are playable, appropriate harmony is used, and there is good attention to bringing out the melodic lines. While there are some effective moments, there is still scope for more musical creativity and idiomatic writing.

For a more secure Merit, greater attention to writing accurate music would allow the arrangements to be skilful and fully effective. For example, key-signatures, instrumental labelling and mood and tempo indications could be clearer for expressive effect.

RESOURCES FOR AS91424

JAZZ LEADSHEETS

POP LEAD SHEETS

CLASSICAL LEAD SHEETS