Just recently (about a month ago) my good friend Jason McKinney called to ask me if I could take time to arrange three spiritual compositions for his performance this coming weekend. I am so glad I did this project. I do feel that I am pleased with the arrangements. They are "Wade in the Water", "Shenandoah", and "Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child" Completing the project is very exciting, and I really love Jason's voice, so I look forward to hearing the performance premiere as his special guest this weekend!
These arrangements took me four days to create the initial piano composition. I then spent several days on orchestration, and of course there is the task of proofreading and editing. All in all it was a very big job, and the month was intense at times with hours of work at the piano.
I think it is funny how sometimes people think that composing is all inspiration and developed by sunshine and breezes and starry night romance. The fact is that it is not glamorous at all. All you do is sit and work. You have the job to do and you have to sit down and do it. You have to lock yourself in a room and spend hours creating the melodies and harmonies.
It can also be very intimidating. I mean on this project I was so concerned that I would be respectful of the African American heritage and musical tradition. You also have to be certain that you are not letting other arrangements into your work for fear of having that influence in your arrangement. When I have played other arrangements they are there in my head and I have to clear them out. It is very important to begin only with the pure melody. Luckily, I had only heard one arrangement of Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child, so I was able to approach that arrangement with a really fresh start!
The most exciting part for me however will be hearing the arrangements with full orchestration. You just do not know until that moment how it all comes together! I look forward to this concert!
The picture you see is a sample of my notebooks. I like hand write the composition at the piano and then transcribe it to the computer.
These arrangements took me four days to create the initial piano composition. I then spent several days on orchestration, and of course there is the task of proofreading and editing. All in all it was a very big job, and the month was intense at times with hours of work at the piano.
I think it is funny how sometimes people think that composing is all inspiration and developed by sunshine and breezes and starry night romance. The fact is that it is not glamorous at all. All you do is sit and work. You have the job to do and you have to sit down and do it. You have to lock yourself in a room and spend hours creating the melodies and harmonies.
It can also be very intimidating. I mean on this project I was so concerned that I would be respectful of the African American heritage and musical tradition. You also have to be certain that you are not letting other arrangements into your work for fear of having that influence in your arrangement. When I have played other arrangements they are there in my head and I have to clear them out. It is very important to begin only with the pure melody. Luckily, I had only heard one arrangement of Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child, so I was able to approach that arrangement with a really fresh start!
The most exciting part for me however will be hearing the arrangements with full orchestration. You just do not know until that moment how it all comes together! I look forward to this concert!
The picture you see is a sample of my notebooks. I like hand write the composition at the piano and then transcribe it to the computer.