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musical arrangement

musical arrangement

1 3.8
A version of a song changed for certain voices or instruments
  • noun
  • /ˈmjuːzɪkəl əˈreɪndʒmənt/
translation icon : arreglo musical
  • The connection of musical arrangements, artistic expression, and the written word through the topic "collage" impacted my students in many ways.

Examples

  • "Gone, Gone, Gone" is a very sentimental song both vocally and in its musical arrangement.

    Blog text (34)
  • People enjoy listening to this beautiful combination and blend arranged by very talented composers and writers who put together beautiful-sounding musical arrangements that can be performed by choral groups for our listening pleasure.

    Blog text (17)
  • One moment in their musical arrangement that made the production special was an instrumental break in "You Did It."

    Blog text (12)
  • On my desk you'll find a musical arrangement.

  • They thought the musical arrangement of all the Elizabeth Taylor themes was genius.

    Fiction book (2000)
  • Challenge those students who demonstrate strong interest or ability in creative exercises to create a musical arrangement, improvise a solo, write a descant, or add a new introduction, interlude, or coda to a class song.

    Academic text (1991)
  • A work based upon one or more preexisting works, such as a translation, musical arrangement, dramatization, fictionalization, motion picture version, sound recording, art reproduction, abridgment, condensation, or any other form in which a work may be recast,

    Blog text (22)
  • What distinguishes Bob Dylan's different personas from, say, David Bowie's, however, is that while Bowie would famously refashion himself with costumes and makeup and with distinctive musical arrangements, Bob Dylan would simply change skin.

    Blog text (9)
  • The musical arrangement for the choir highlighted the unique talents of each singer.

  • Many artists collaborate to create intricate musical arrangements for their performances.

Synonyms

arrangement
vsmusical arrangement
62 4.2

A version of a piece of music written for different instruments or voices

refers specifically to the finished adapted piece for certain voices or instruments
piece of music
vsmusical arrangement
22 1.8

A musical work like a song or music played by instruments

is the adapted version prepared for particular performers rather than the original work
orchestration
vsmusical arrangement
  • Specialized
4 6.7

An arrangement of a musical piece that shows which instruments play each part

applies to adapting music for any specific group, not only orchestras
transcription
vsmusical arrangement
  • Specialized
1 5.7

An arrangement of a musical piece for a different instrument or group

adapts music for a chosen group of voices or instruments

How Complex

orchestration
  • Specialized
4 6.7
musical arrangement
1 3.8
reduction
31 3.5

Surface Forms

Morphology

musical + arrangement

The meaning is directly and transparently derived from 'musical' (related to music) combined with 'arrangement' (a rearranged or organized musical piece), so a B1 learner who knows both words can infer it refers to an arrangement of music for particular voices or instruments. This adjective–noun composition follows a regular compositional pattern found across languages, making the phrase immediately comprehensible from its parts.

Etymology

Musical arrangement comes from the idea of arrangement — arranging a song like placing furniture in a room: the arranger moves the melody and parts so they fit the voices or instruments available. So a musical arrangement is a 'version' of a piece made for a particular group, which is why some arrangements highlight different instruments.