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Glite Dictionary
📝 To copy again 🎼 To arrange music
to retranscribe

to retranscribe

7.5
To change a piece of music so different instruments can play it
  • verb
  • /ˌriːtrænˈskaɪb/
  • Specialized
translation icon : reorquestar
  • After hearing the new instruments, she chose to retranscribe the piece to better suit their sound.

Examples

  • She will retranscribe the piece for piano and violin.

  • The composer decided to retranscribe the piano sonata for a full string quartet this season.

  • He was asked to retranscribe the choral work for a solo piano performance.

  • I need to retranscribe the score for the orchestra.

  • The musician decided to retranscribe the score to better suit the orchestra's instruments.

  • After reviewing the original arrangement, she needed to retranscribe it for the new ensemble.

  • To accommodate the singers, the conductor asked the pianist to retranscribe the piece for different voices.

Synonyms

to arrange
vsto retranscribe
26 4.6

To change a song or other work so it can be performed in a new way

is specifically about making a new version for other instruments or voices
to transcribe
vsto retranscribe
  • Specialized
1 5.1

To rewrite music so it can be played on a different instrument

is focused on making a new version specifically for other instruments or voices
to reorchestrate
vsto retranscribe
  • Specialized
1 8.0

To arrange a piece of music again for different instruments

is broader, applying to new versions for various instruments or voices

Surface Forms

retranscribe infinitive
retranscribed past
retranscribed past participle
retranscribing present participle
retranscribes third person singular

Morphology

retranscribe = transcribe (transparent) = re + transcribe

In the musical sense, 're-' clearly means performing the transcription or arrangement again.

Etymology

Retranscribe combines re- 'again' with trans- 'across' and scribe 'to write', so it gives the idea of 'writing across again'. In music, that picture helps: to retranscribe a piece is to write the same music again for different instruments or voices, which is why it means making a new arrangement.