Classic-Banjo

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This is probably wishful thinking

I was looking through some of the arrangements on the website and my composer instincts kicked in. I took a crack at arranging "Dance of the skeletons" by Thomas S Allen. It's not done yet, but I think this gives a proper idea of how difficult the arrangement will be. I decided to go the Bradbury route by trying my best to add accompaniment on top of the melody. Let me know what you think.

Attachments:

Dance of the Skeletons.pdf, 548 KB
Dance of the Skeletons - Flow 1.mp3, 3.2 MB

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Permalink Reply by Austin on Friday

Also, I wanted to stick to the standard method of notation as much as possible.

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Permalink Reply by Joel Hooks on Friday

Check out the original banjo arrangement in A notation here:

https://archive.org/details/jacobsmandolinbanjoorchestrafoliono.3so...

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Permalink Reply by Austin on Friday

Was this written by Thomas S. Allen? Edit: sorry it says Walter Jacobs I should have read.

Joel Hooks said:

Check out the original banjo arrangement in A notation here:

https://archive.org/details/jacobsmandolinbanjoorchestrafoliono.3so...

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Permalink Reply by Austin on Friday

Sorry to reply again, should I slide to create the wind effect?

Joel Hooks said:

Check out the original banjo arrangement in A notation here:

https://archive.org/details/jacobsmandolinbanjoorchestrafoliono.3so...

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Permalink Reply by Joel Hooks on Friday

Usually when there is a name and then under that name there is "arr" or "arranged"(or similar) and another name, that means that the top name is the composer and the second is the arranger for the specific instrument the arrangement is made for.

Allen composed for piano and made arrangements for band/orchestra.

RE: wind, yes, that is what is intended by the slurs as noted clearly on the bottom of the first page.

Adhere strictly to the rhythm, dynamics and tempo markings to make this effective. Otherwise it is just noise and not programmatic.

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Permalink Reply by Austin on Friday

I have to ask, what is music to you? You seem to have a very strict sense of what it is. Also, is there no room for interpretation?

Joel Hooks said:

Usually when there is a name and then under that name there is "arr" or "arranged"(or similar) and another name, that means that the top name is the composer and the second is the arranger for the specific instrument the arrangement is made for.

Allen composed for piano and made arrangements for band/orchestra.

RE: wind, yes, that is what is intended by the slurs as noted clearly on the bottom of the first page.

Adhere strictly to the rhythm, dynamics and tempo markings to make this effective. Otherwise it is just noise and not programmatic.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Joel Hooks on Friday

There is plenty of room for interpretation, but it should have some sort of cohesiveness about it.

Much of classic banjo music is in "dance" form and thus requires strict time. Others are rubato and freeform but should come together and have purpose for the changes in tempo.

I do not have any particular ideas about "what is music", but with classic banjo the composers had intentions. Interpretation is great but if one deviates too far from the point then what is the point?

I respect all types of music, but I also find the atonal or 12 tone popular with modern composers for guitar to be totally unlistenable.

Setting all of that aside, interpretation is great, but one needs to walk before they can run. I am all for embellishments, added harmony, new arrangements, and even combinations of various pieces to form new works.

And I respect the ability to play in time (this takes dedication). I also respect dynamic control and have worked very hard to achieve some minimum skill of it.

Be able to play in time, then don't. That is very different than not being able to.

Get out that metronome. It is worth it.