Amazing Grace (W)
25 December, 2009 - 23:56 — admin
Arranged by James Bolger in the style of Ravel's Bolero, the piece starts softly with only Side Drum and is soon joined by the melody. Verse 2 introduces the first chording and verse 3 brings the piece to a rousing climax.
Grade 3
$35 + P&P
Sound file (Brass Band Version)- Score PDF to follow
Comments
One of these things just doesn't belong here... Copied from Sibe
Okay. I like it, but I do hear some things I didn't like. I would try to make it have a warmer sound, I would switch on and off with different sections. To get a good example of what I mean, listen to "Hymn to the Fallen" by John Williams. He does a fantastic job of panning the theme around the orchestra, and using the diffrent sections. I would use the horns to carry the melody in the end, making it a more heavenly theme. Also I don't like the 2:3 patterns. Although they are not that noticeable I could still hear them.
I thought it was interesting the way you had a snaredrum solo in the begining, although it is from the Broadway play: Blast!
But it works for what you do. So i would listen to that song, and see what you can change.
Michael Tompkins
A bit of a let-down - Copied from Sibeliusmusic.com
After reading the programme-note while this score was downloading, I was looking forward to a real treat - unfortunately, I was rather disappointed by what actually turned up. While there is nothing wrong with the arrangement - nothing is out of range, the balance is good etc. - there is little to commend it. The treatment of the tune is unimaginative and formulaic, and I think it is a little far-fetched to describe the piece as "in the style of Ravel's Bolero"; it is merely a 'safe' arrangement of Amazing Grace with the snare drum rhythm from said Bolero added underneath. This is a real shame, because the idea of a Bolero/Amazing Grace arrangement is a good one; but this attempt doesn't really hit the mark.
David Morgan
O.k., but... - Copied from Sibeliusmusic.com
This arrangement of the timeless classic has some potential, but I think it is a bit unrealized. Although the melody is treated with a certain reverence, I'm not sure that the snare drum fits in well with the overall concept of the arrangement. The piece emphasizes unison writing a bit too much; some strong countermelodies would have improved it here and there. On the positive side, I think the key change is handled quite well, and the sections seem to flow together nicely. With some reworking, this could be a very solid arrangement.
Mark Feezell, Ph.D.