When I’m thinking about arranging a song, I always think of Ian Malcolm.
Malcolm, the Jeff Goldblum character in Jurassic Park, says in the movie “Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn’t stop to think if they should.”
For an experienced arranger, this should be the animating question. At this point, it’s a rare song that I hear and don’t think I could write an arrangement of it. But whether that song should be arranged for a cappella choir, jazz choir, big band, or other scholastic ensemble, well that’s another question.
Will the song benefit from an arranger’s voice being added? Will the arrangement fill a void in available repertoire? Will it serve a necessary purpose in a concert or recording?
For beginning arrangers, the question is different. Don’t ask Malcolm’s question, ask: “Can I live with this song for a long time?” You have to love it, because the first arrangements you write will take serious time.
For student arrangers the questions are different, too. Will I learn something from this arrangement? Will I get the chance to practice useful skills? Will it fit the needs of the scholastic ensembles around me?
But once you’ve learned your craft, Ian Malcolm’s your guy.
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