I chose Sergei Rachmaninoff’s (1873-1943) Vocalise (1912) for this exercise. I have listened to and watched various ensembles, including a solo piano. Perhaps the most successful arrangement would be the Alto Saxophone and Symphony Orchestra. Mainly because the composer transmits loads of expression and sentiment with the instruments in the original. The Alto Saxophone seems to blend effortlessly with the orchestra, encapsulating the same depth of emotion. The work that seems to be lesser successful could perhaps be the Voice and Orchestra. Although the human voice can create a true legato and a vast amount of vibrato to match the original’s expression level, it felt that it may need some choirs or backing vocals. The voice seemed to bare even accompanied by the orchestra. The arrangements listened to do not seem to add anything from the original, except the Piano solo by Wang’s performance. In that case, the repetitive chords add a sense of romanticism and sensitivity. The decision to refrain from adding elements to the arrangement appears to be motivated by a desire to preserve the work’s authenticity and remain faithful to the original composition. All the arrangements, except for the Piano solo, appear to have maintained the essence and identity of Rachmaninoff’s original composition. While the piano solo may not have captured the actual closeness to the original, it undeniably stood out due to its remarkable inventiveness and creative composition.
After listening and reflecting upon the arrangements, there seems to be a close relationship between the original works and the arrangements. To create a successful arrangement, detailed caution must be taken to maintain the original works’ intentions. That said, a level of creativity seems to be also required.
References:
Rachmaninov, S. 1912. Vocalise. Accessed on 10/05/2023 from: https://youtu.be/DuBexGEe1S4
Wang, Y. 2014. Vocalise for Piano. Accessed on 10/05/2023 from: https://youtu.be/1yTyYpWqsZU
Norman, V. 2019. Vocalise for Alto Saxophone and Symphony Orchestra. The State Conservatory of Uzbekistan. The Great Hall 20th November 2019. Accessed on 10/05/2023 from: https://youtu.be/HbtZ3MVNyyg
Moffo, A. Vocalise for Voice and Orchestra. 1964. Accessed on 10/05/2023 from: https://youtu.be/HFcy1Kd0j60
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Orchestration and Arrangement 