River by Joni Mitchell

River

Hello everyone! I just discovered this forum. I'd like to share my arrangement of River by Joni Mitchell. Would love to know what you think of it   😄   Debbie

7 replies

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    • Amateur guitarist/lutenist
    • David_Krupka
    • 3 yrs ago
    • Reported - view

    Beautiful, Debbie! The guitar (like the lute before it) is a wonderful vehicle for transmitting the essence of popular song. (It's a tradition that goes back at least to the 16th century.) There is real art in arrangement, and I greatly admire musicians like yourself who are able to do it. I'd love to hear how you go about it. And thanks for sharing your score!

      • Debbie
      • 3 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

      David Krupka Thanks for listening, David. I glad you like it! I agree with you that the guitar is great for arranging. In the same way Segovia said it was a little orchestra, it's also a little "band." I'm happy to share the score. I usually publish arrangements with Sheet Music Plus but they don't have this song in their catalog so not being able to sell it I might as well give it away, LOL.

      How to go about arranging is a big question. What key, how much freedom to stray from the original, what textures, where to play the melody, etc.. But I usually start with a melody and a bass line then noodle a bit for inspiration. It goes through a lot of steps but that's the general gist. 

    • Eric
    • 3 yrs ago
    • Reported - view

    That was wonderful! Thank you so much for sharing that. The arrangement works well, with a variety of textures and rhythms to keep it interesting. Joni Mitchell truly is an outstanding songwriter, and you captured the spirit of her song very well.

    • Debbie
    • 3 yrs ago
    • Reported - view

    Thank you so much for listening and sharing a comment, Eric! It really means a lot to get feedback from my tonebase peers 😊

    • Rick
    • 3 yrs ago
    • Reported - view

    Debbie, enjoyed this at sunrise and coffee - beautiful, expressive playing and lovely arrangement.  Thank you for sharing it.

      • Debbie
      • 3 yrs ago
      • Reported - view

      Rick Lord thank you so much for listening, Rick. I really appreciate your comment   😊

    • Retired
    • Jack_Stewart
    • 3 yrs ago
    • Reported - view

    That was great, Debbie. I love Joni Mitchell's work and you arranged and played this beautifully, though I don't know this particular work.  I saw Joni Mitchell in Austin in 1976 (just after Hissing of Summer Lawns). Bob Dylan made an unannounced appearance. 

    BTW the opening sounds like Jingle Bells.

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