Arrangement Ideas

Hello everybody! Lately I have been extremely busy with my Exit Portfolio for student teaching, so any chance of working on arrangements or trying to progress our group has been on the back burner for the past few days. Today I had a few really awesome ideas for a cappella pieces, but I realized that if I don't write them down, they will disappear in the bustle of my life. So here are some ideas of what I am working on, whats next on the table, and crazy thoughts I have been having.

Men At Work:

• "Sherry" originally by Bob Gaudio, performed by Frankie Vali, is done and ready to be rehearsed.
  
• Two weeks ago I began working more in depth with "Renegade" by Styx. I have the major chunk of the song arranged in a basic format. Looking at a tabs site (www.ultimate-guitar.com) for the wild guitar solo, I managed to transcribe all the notes. I still need to listen to the original and dictate the rhythm by ear, however. I got through about 1/8 of the solo before I went stir crazy and began working on my actual portfolio. I hand it in this Wednesday, and after that my mind and schedule will be free so I can get back to work on that.
• My Mistress's Eyes - An original composition that I spoke to Ryan about using the text from Shakespeare's Sonnet 130. This will be a first of totally original material, and I am proud to announce that it will be a barbershop piece.
• God of Thunder - As tacky as they are, and as professional as I try to compose myself, I am a member of the KISS Army. I love their upbeat style, romantic gothic look, and feel good music. I plan on arranging a few numbers by KISS, but first on the list is "God of Thunder" which will have syllables not-so-normal for average a cappella.
• L is for... - I plan on arranging a really nice vocal jazz arrangement of "L is for the Way" that will have a childlike beginning, but turn into a big-band style sound.

I plan on having most of these arrangements done by February if at all possible. We will see how my schedule turns when I am done with school and start working in the real world.

I Should Arrange That:

• I saw a play the other week, "Under Construction" directed by Josh Pearlstein. In the show, there was a provocative Freudian dance to "Tainted Love", the original and the Marilyn Manson version. Needless to say I was singing it the next morning and realized that the Manson version of that song should be "mashed up" with "It's My Life" by Bon Jovi.
• "Solfeggietto" by C.P.E. Bach would be a fun piece to do a cappella. It would be rather simple, but then you add some vocal percussion to it, and it could develop much further.
• I was talking with my room mate today, who is the Assistant Director of CCSU's Divisi, and concluded that taking any System of a Down song and turning it into a Renaissance Madrigal would be hilarious and challenging. Think about it, you know you would love to hear it.

That's all for now folks. Until next time, later days.

-Chris