Hi,

I've recently started composing but am also interested in arranging existing music.

Initially, i'll be interested in arranging for saxophone quartet, and also a larger sax ensemble because then I can try them out on the groups I play in.

I have no clue where to start! the only one i've done was Faure's Pavane, which sounded o.k I suppose, but not brilliant! Basically I took it from an easy piano book and each sax basically took a line (bari took lowest notes etc) though I did try and give everyone a chance to shine at some point with some little solo or other!

I would be grateful of ANY advice, what to start from (are piano books the right choice or totally wrong!) are there any books/courses etc? I'd be very interested.

Thanks.

I generally take the term arranging to mean more than redistributing parts, although others will disagree. Sometimes arrangements start from a single melody line, or sometimes from a fuller composition. Generally, I'm not keen on arranging arrangements (i.e. an easy piano piece). When arranging, I often add in an introduction and perhaps some short interludes. I often change the harmony and change the texture.

I think that a great starting point for arranging, are folksong melodies. I did this arrangement of a folksong called 'The Captain's Apprentice' for a string trio earlier in the year. Some may know it as one of the themes in R.V.W.'s Norfolk Rhapsody. Sometimes, having less to work with is easier than more, and your arrangement will be more creative.

Also, go out and listen to some arrangements. I would start with some from what I might call the 'golden age' of arranging - Rober Farnon, Angela Morley, John Fox, Ernest Tomlinson. I'd also look at things like the Britten and R.V.W. Folksong arrangements.

David

My advice to any beginner would be, "Start with instruments you understand and groups that you could assemble, so that you can hear the results", so your start with a saxophone quartet is spot on. Do you play in any other groups?

my advice would be to start simple with the pieces you know and easy harmony to understand and smaller instrumentation.