RSSArranging Music
December 7th, 2009 by Jim Chappell | Filed under Latest.Once I have some new song ideas that I am inspired to work with I usually have to roll up my sleeves do “the arrangement.”
For me that means:
- How can I best present the song?
- How can it have the most feeling in it?
- How can it tell it’s story in the most engaging way?
- Is it long enough?
- Is it too long?
- Do I like the intro?
- Do I like the ending?
Sometimes this part of putting together an album is the most difficult in my opinion. However, besides being very necessary, it can make a huge difference in what you get out of the song as a fan/listener! So it’s a must:)
Here is a piece from my Comfort Songs album that turned out nicely:
Tags: Arranging music, jim chappell blog, piano music, solo piano, songwriting
Hi Gus and thanks so much for your insights..You are great at expressing your thoughts:)
A beautiful piece, Jim. Music can have so many complexities or it can be relatively simple. Both extremes can be beautiful… or painful. It IS a delicate balance of many attributes as you have noted. Frequently, I hear music with great potential but the arrangement is too repetitive and it becomes old very quickly. A theme must be carried but not overdone.
You have done a great job maintaining the balance in your work. We are amazed how well you present your stories in your music and convey the feeling through your arrangements. I was a devout fan of “Gone”, “Blue Racer” and others long before I read your stories.
Maybe your breakdown of key elements is how you think you see it, but you put much more into your music. Call it feeling. Call it soul. Call it magic. Whatever. It is an important element to your arrangements.
Keep up the great work.