Musical arranging: how to adapt a musical composition to an ensemble?
If the role of the creative musician is to compose music, that of the musical arranger is to structure all the elements of a piece so that it is sublimated as a whole. The arranger has to work on each instrument individually to make the best of a recorded or played composition. The goal? That the musical arrangement is as suitable for studio recording as it is for a live concert broadcast.
Here, Newzik provides you with a few tips on how to master the arrangement of a piece of music, and how to adapt the audio track of one instrument to an entire ensemble. Follow our tips to learn how to make the right musical arrangements and choose the right tools to take care of your entire composition!
What is a musical arrangement?
A musical arrangement involves taking an existing composition and adapting it, usually for a larger ensemble or for a different performance. This may involve reconfiguring the orchestration, harmonies, rythm and sound textures, so that each instrument is highlighted while remaining coherent with the whole.
The musical arrangement of a song
If it's a song, the musical arrangement may include vocal adjustments, such as the creation of backing or counter vocals, as well as the addition of instruments to enrich the musical texture. The arranger often works from a simple melody and chord line, adding elements such as percussion, strings or synthesizers to add depth and dynamism to the song.
💡 Working with a choir? Find out how to classify each voice type according to their tessitura in a choir
Musical arrangement in the studio
Studio arranging focuses on sonic detail and recording quality. In addition to orchestration, the studio arranger may adjust the balance between instruments, play with effects (reverb, delay, compression, etc.) and fine-tune the structure to ensure that the song works well in a recording context. This can also include adjustments to the mix to enhance the audio for different types of broadcast (radio, streaming, vinyl).
💿 Some arrangers use virtual audio composition and editing software to build their arrangements and add effects. In this case, they use samples and work with digital music tracks. Computer-Assisted Music (CAM).
Musical arrangement for an orchestra
Arranging music for an orchestra involves adapting a work, often originally composed for a smaller ensemble or solo instrument, to a full orchestra. This requires a thorough knowledge of orchestration, as each instrument must be used to its best advantage according to its tessitura and role in the ensemble. This type of arrangement is commonly used for classical pieces, film soundtracks or adaptations of popular songs for symphony orchestra.
Do you work with an orchestra as a musician, composer or arranger? Free up your rehearsal time with the features of NewzikEnsemble ! Newzik provides the whole orchestra with turnkey tools for annotating scores or sharing bow strokes.
How do you arrange a composition or a piece of music?
Working on song structure
A good arrangement depends first and foremost on a solid understanding of the song's structure. Breaking down the various sections (intro, verses, chorus, bridge, outro) and organizing them in such a way as to create a natural flow is essential. This step also helps to better distribute instrumental interventions and avoid sound overload.
💡Discoverour 7 tips for learning how to compose a piece of music
A global vision of the piece
It's easy to focus on the details when working on an arrangement. However, it's very important to keep an eye on the big picture: lyrics chords, tempo and harmony. Ask yourself: what is the overall feeling this piece should evoke? What are the key moments you want to emphasize? This vision will guide you in your choice of instrumentation and dynamics.
💡 With Newzik, you can transpose your chords and synchronize the lyrics of a composition with audio files. This lets you scroll through the lyrics of a piece while you play the score.
Careful transitions
Transitions between different sections of a song are often underestimated, but they play an essential role. A good arranger knows how to manage transitions so that the passages from one section to another are smooth and harmonious. For example, the addition of crescendos, subtle tempo changes, or a brief silence can make these transitions much more impactful.
Creating contrast and dynamics in a musical work
One of the essential principles of arranging is the creation of contrast. By varying dynamics, sound textures and instrumental interventions, you create interest and maintain the listener's attention. For example, alternating between intense passages and quieter moments will give your arrangement more depth. Working on texture and harmonic progression can amplify this dynamic:
Playing with orchestration and texture
Orchestration involves assigning different roles to the instruments in your composition. Play with timbres to create a varied sound texture. For example, violins could add softness, while brass instruments could add dynamism. Subtle interplay between instruments enhances the depth of your piece.
Working on harmonic progression
Chords play a vital role in harmonic depth. Start by experimenting with the assembly of complex chords to create a certain emotion in the listener. A well thought-out harmonic progression will give your composition emotional and narrative depth.
Eliminate superfluous elements from the composition
It can be tempting to add several elements to enrich a piece, yet too many instruments or harmonies can weigh down a composition. Sometimes, an effective arrangement involves removing certain elements so that the essential can shine through. Watch out for moments when a simple piano or guitar may be enough to support the main melody.
4 techniques for adapting the arrangement of your instrument to an ensemble
1. Master an orchestral score at your fingertips
Tempo, rythm, harmony: study each staff,chord grids, etc. in detail. Analyze and learn each instrument passage to learn the sequences of the original musical work. By mastering each nuance, you'll find it easier to harmonize the instruments and adjust the arrangement according to the strengths of the ensemble.
2. Use the right tools to fine-tune your arrangement
If you want to make things easier for yourself, don't hesitate to use audio editing software tailored to the composition you need to arrange. Audio arranging and editing software is a useful tool for working with precision. Ableton Live, Logic Pro and Sibelius, for example, make it easy to visualize, edit and synchronize your instrumental parts. Use these programs to fine-tune every detail of the arrangement and test different versions before making your final choice.
3. Adapt the playing of your instrument to all the instruments in a piece
Arrangement means adaptation. In a good arrangement, each instrument must have the right range, placement and tempo to harmonize with the other instruments. In a successful arrangement, each instrument must have its specific place. Tessitura, dynamics and spatial distribution (placement in the mix) are elements to be taken into account to ensure that each instrument blends harmoniously with the others. The aim is to create a balance in which each instrumental voice is heard without dominating the others.
4. Working on single-track and multi-track arrangements
Before getting into the details of stereo mixing, it's often useful to work in mono first: that is, to work instrument by instrument. This allows you to concentrate on the overall balance of volumes and dynamics without being distracted by the spatialization of sounds. Once you're satisfied with your single-track work, you can move on to multi-track and take care of the stereo by placing all the instruments in the sound space.
"La Quête" Jacques Brel - Live symphonic arrangement
🎶 Your arrangements have been worked on and recorded in scores on your Cloud Newzik? It's time to share them with your orchestra! Connect to Newzikand transmit your arranged compositions to other musicians at any time, allowing them to add their own annotations and follow their playback in rehearsal.
