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New Slang (by the Shins) and Yellow (by Coldplay): Pop Hits for String Quartet
New Slang (by the Shins) and Yellow (by Coldplay): Pop Hits for String Quartet
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Two of alternative rock's best-known, mid-tempo ballads are translated into concise arrangements that capture the dynamic power of Coldplay's "Yellow" and the quiet melodicism of the Shins' "New Slang."
By Eric Gorfain.
Published by String Letter Publishing
$16.95
Sheet Music
ABOUT THE MUSIC (Excerpted from the Performance Notes)
"New Slang” by the Shins captures the vibe of ’60s folk music with a simple earnestness matched only by its infectiousness. In the original, a quiet, campfire-style acoustic guitar supports the haunting melody, so try performing this string arrangement with a super-relaxed feel. Lightly brushed strokes on the string, perhaps even sul tasto, will help create an ethereal atmosphere, especially when the violins play false harmonics starting at m. 26. No matter which instrument is playing the melody, be sure to preserve the leisurely legato feel throughout. However, when the 1st Violin plays the “guitar solo” (indicated by the “easygoing” marking: m. 39 through m. 45, and m. 57 through m. 63) try playing the long notes of the melody with a tremolo to simulate the cool vibrato effect applied to the guitar in the Shins’ original version.
Click here to listen to a sample of "New Slang."
Coldplay was not yet a household name in 2000 when the British pop band released “Yellow,” but once this catchy tune hit the airwaves (and the video music channels) the band was on its way to becoming one of the biggest acts in the world. “Yellow” immediately impressed me with a super-compressed acoustic guitar sound and the fantastic instrument that is frontman Chris Martin’s voice. Because the straightforward groove of the band’s original version could have been bland with just the string quartet, my arrangement changes the feel with a rhythmic cello part, which is much more active than the bass part in Coldplay’s version. The result is somewhat Baroque. The obbligato arpeggio in the 2nd Violin part propels the arrangement in the verses and allows the choruses to open up, rhythmically speaking, which will hopefully prompt the listener to join in for an old-fashioned sing-along. Without making it too jaunty, keep a spring in your step throughout.
Click here to listen to a sample of "Yellow."
ABOUT THE ARRANGER
Eric Gorfain—violinist, producer, and string arranger—combines his classical training with a rock ’n’ roll sensibility to create a unique musical identity. He’s toured as violinist and concertmaster with Jimmy Page and Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin, produced albums for Japanese rock bands, and written countless string arrangements for some of today’s finest recording artists, all the while working as a session musician for artists such as the Foo Fighters, Eric Clapton, James Blunt, Sam Phillips, Christina Aguilera, and Fiona Apple, among others. In 1998, he founded the Section Quartet and began writing rock string-quartet arrangements, from classic rock staples by Led Zeppelin to modern rock masterpieces by Radiohead. In 2007, the Section Quartet released the album Fuzzbox to rave reviews.
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