The idea of the "piano arrangement" is a funny subject to me. Of course, I understand what it is, it's what happens every time I play. I don't think about it with that vocabulary, however, until someone says something like: "That was a nice arrangement you just played" "Well, that's good", I think, "I wonder how it went?". It all ends there unless the one who initiated this continues: "Where did you get it?". "Huh?", I think. At that point my mouth may start moving: "Where did you come up with that sentence? Did you read it? Who wrote it first?". If I'm smart (this often eludes me), I wrap it up quickly, talking about musical improvisation as conversation, or dialog, or pontification (solo pianists can be pontificators - gee, sounds sinful).
Of course, what people are referring to are the sheet music arrangements you can buy, of most any thing ever written, if you look hard enough. I don't use them. Why would I? We (of whatever particular group I'm referring, I'm not exactly sure) improvise an "arrangement" every time we play a tune. No point having someone do for me what I'm already doing (kind of like having a "conversation coach", I guess). On top of that, I like that I can express myself. It is uniquely my communication. I guess you can say that jazz (at least with me) "eliminates the middleman".
Of course, what people are referring to are the sheet music arrangements you can buy, of most any thing ever written, if you look hard enough. I don't use them. Why would I? We (of whatever particular group I'm referring, I'm not exactly sure) improvise an "arrangement" every time we play a tune. No point having someone do for me what I'm already doing (kind of like having a "conversation coach", I guess). On top of that, I like that I can express myself. It is uniquely my communication. I guess you can say that jazz (at least with me) "eliminates the middleman".
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