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About Arranging.

See also 'About Arranging, Composing and Alike'.

Here you will find general information about Arranging music focusing to contemporary popular music. What styles are there and what are their characteristics. Where do they find their roots and how to apply different styles to a new piece of music.
But first of all: what is a popular song? Is it a song sung by children at school or when people are at work? In fact it could be anything: a melody line from a musical or a traditional folk song past on from generation to generation.. However, there is one characteristic thing they all have in common: the length will be around 3 minutes! Well, mostly. This characteristic, -or limitation if you like-, is also called: 'The three minute art' by insiders.

 There is also a similarity when looking at the ingredients of the popular song: the combination of rhythm, melody, sound, and words. Words give meaning to a song and therefore will have the same effect on the listener. But songs without words can be experienced differently, depending on the mood or knowledge of music from the listener. However: instrumental pieces with strong melodies can be fascinating because they follow the structural and harmonic laws that go for songs with words.

A catchy rhythm with only one or two chords however, can be just enough to make a song popular.  

 

The shape or musical form.

Although musical forms can vary, the classical 'da capo aria' or variations on this form are still mostly used.

1st Verse 
(With or without chorus)		 2nd Verse
(With or without chorus)		 Middle Piece
(or middle 8)		 3rd Verse
 		Repeat Middle Piece Repeat 1st or 3rd Verse Ending

Most popular music doesn't end abrupt like for instance in most jazz, blues or folk music. The most catchy part of the song is repeated a few times in the "Ending' thus creating a sort of 'hook' that fades away in the head of the listener. This technique can also be an interesting tool from a certain, -commercial-, point of view.

 

  © 2000 Midi Flowers. The contents of this article are subject to worldwide copyright protection and reproduction in whole or part, whether mechanical or electronic, is expressly forbidden without the prior written consent of the Publishers.


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