blog
..... arranging .....


 

Chamber Works


Khalil Shamieh


"Remarkable. Just a magnificent job you did on my song that
I had been hearing in my mind for decades, only better..."

(commissioned the ballad "Love Is Patient" for his wedding)

Love Is Patient


Donald Gillis

Songs of Faith

arrangements included editing of melodies,
reharmonizations, orchestrations for
voice, oboe, flute, cello, classical guitar, and piano;
and score preparation.

1) "You Are Not Alone" (vocal version) 3:01
2) "Like A Leaf in the Wind" 4:03
3) "There is a Time" 3:34
4) "You Are Not Alone" (solo piano) 3:19
(piano parts performed by the arranger)

©2007 Donald W. Gillis

 

Alan Tower



from Alan Tower's "10,000 Thunderstorms" CD, 2001,
Alan Tower & Free Energy Records,
romantic works based on two themes by Alan Tower

1) "Capacity For Intensity" 2:52 (string quartet)
2) "Intrauterine Cannibals" 2:21 (solo piano)
(performed by the arranger)

 

 

Roger Bourland
(Chair of the Music Department, UCLA)


photo credit: Joanna Juan Gan/Daily Bruin

"Lullaby" is the sixth movement of the
"Hidden Legacies" cantata by Roger Bourland,
and is dedicated to the victims of AIDS.
It's original scoring calls for men's chorus,
four synthesizers, and electric bass.
In order to preserve the emotional impact
of the work with a much smaller group of
mixed vocalists and five chamber instrumentalists,
I incorporated several major changes in orchestration:

1) Opening and closing versus are now sung by soloists.
2) Verses are more thickly harmonized (especially #3).
3) A trumpet obligato part was added, as well as a section for that instrument to improvise a countermelody during the baritone solo (final verse).
4) Section of chant-like melodies for viola and cello were created and interspersed throughout the piece (inspired by John Tavener's "Funeral Ikos," also dedicated to the victims of AIDS).
5) The final bars focus on the word "release" through repetition rather than "peace" from the original.

"Lullaby" 5:04 (mixed choral with instrumentalists)
(performed by the Mirabai Ensemble,
live at St. Mary's Cathedral, San Francisco, Winter 1996)


Biaja Solomon



arrangements include all instrument parts
from Biaja Solomon's "Woman In The Moon" CD, 1991,
Steep Ravine Records, CD-262

1) "Last Lullaby" 3:11 (unreleased version - modern folk)
2) "Woman In The Moon" 1:40 (Klezmer feel)
(this piece was interpreted by the performers)

 


Kriya Septet



from "Live at Yoshi's" CD, 2003,
Second Sight Music, SSM006,
arranged and reharmonized in a modern chorale style

"Remember Hymn" 2:24 (septet-hymn)
(by John Ambercrombie, Abjohn Music)
(performed by the Kriya Septet)

 

 

 

Vivian Q. Sayles

from Michael Smolens' "The Last Rendezvous" CD, 1998,
Second Sight Music, SSM002
co-arranged with the composer

"Lament of the Banshees" 2:31 (modern Irish)
(by Vivian Q. Sayles, A Moment in Time Publishing)

 

 

 

John Thomas



from John Thomas' "Living Room" CD, 2002,
Floating Zebra Records,
based on a traditional Negro spiritual

"Over My Head I Hear Music In The Air" 3:26 (solo piano)
(performed by the arranger)

 

 

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