Research Description:

Arranging Music in the Digital Age

The purpose of my project is to arrange a large orchestral composition, "Russian Easter Overture, Op. 36 by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, for expanded flute orchestra, utilizing current digital music technology. It is my hope that I can create a piece of music that will eventually be added to flute ensemble music libraries at other schools around the country.

The first part of my project will involve traditional research. I will study other pieces of music that have been arranged for flute choir to better understand the arrangement process. Once a thorough understanding is obtained, I can begin to write the actual arrangement. In arranging, I will take each individual line of music from the original score and reassign it to a new part within the flute ensemble. The actual physical arrangement of the music is the portion of the project that incorporates digital media. I will use a keyboard with MIDI capability in conjunction with MIDI software and Finale software to move the music from the score into a computer. Once the music is transferred I can begin to transpose and reassign each individual line using the Finale software. This process will comprise the majority of the research and work associated with the project, seeing as the careful placement of each musical line will determine the quality of the arrangement.

Once the arrangement is complete, I will compare it to the orchestral score and adjust it as necessary to preserve as much of the original composition as possible. From here I will contact publishing companies with the intention of finding one interested in publishing the arrangement. Once I have found a publisher I will work with my faculty adviser, Dr. Kristen Stoner, to arrange rehearsals and the premiere performance of the piece with the University of Florida Flute Ensemble.