Composing and arranging has been a passion of mine since a young age and was initially inspired by the great PDQ Bach who I saw climb down a rope at the Seattle Opera House before he conducted his band for a show where they played his twisted versions of Bach and other classical music. The thought that kept rolling in my mind was, "You can do THIS to music?!?"
The way sheetmusic flowed from beginning to end also fascinated me, I thought it was the mystery to be solved and I remember analyzing music like "The Music Box Dancer" and other songs from the late 70's and early 80's to get an idea of what made a popular song.
To say that I figured everything out is wishful thinking, but I've written a lot of songs and arranged many others. I've put a handful of arrangements on my Score Exchange page, a site devoted to helping composers and arrangers share their work.
The two Irish tunes below are available as printed sheetmusic from Lulu.com (self publishing site) and they are also available on Score Exchange as instant downloads.
Here is some of the music I have available on Score Exchange. The arrangements include original compositions, Celtic classics, Christmas music, some gospel/hymn standards, and others.
Scot Ranney’s Score Exchange Profile
This arrangement of the classic Irish tune Carrickfergus is a mixture of jazz and modern Celtic harmonies. Fairly easy and fun to play.
This arrangement of the classic Irish tune Danny Boy is a mixture of jazz and modern Celtic harmonies. Easy and fun.
Amazing Grace, easy boogie woogie style
This version of Amazing Grace has a fairly easy left hand and some simple but effective blues embellishments in the right. You could use the right hand material in any Bb blues style song, solo or jamming with a group. You can also play it a bit faster and it will sound great.
Great song for anyone wanting to add some blues licks to their piano playing.
What a Friend We Have in Jesus
Sometimes hymn music can be some of the greatest music for blues and other styles. This is a solo jazz piano arrangement of a popular hymn, “What A Friend We Have In Jesus”. This arrangement includes a written improvisation, a walking left hand bass line, and chord symbols for reference and learning.
The piece also includes many common jazz tendencies such as reharmonizations, leading chords, and chords that sustain and resolve. The chord voicings are a mixture of what you might hear guys like Keith Jarrett, Monty Alexander, Bill Mays, and other great solo players put into their music.
Classic New Year's Eve piece, fleshed out in my style.
This is a swinging version of Jolly Ol' St. Nicholas. Fun to play, some jazz counterpoint, good for a recital or just having fun.
There is also Oh Holy Night, Oh Christmas Tree (and another version), and several of my original songs.
