INTRODUCTION
Pink Soldiers is a creative arrangement of the main theme from Netflix's Squid Game. Commissioned for the CBSO Project Remix, a collaborative ensemble comprising mostly KS3-KS5 students with varying skill levels alongside professional musicians from CBSO, the arrangement premiered at Symphony Hall on February 25th, serving as the concert opener.
THE WORK
Originally a brief 30-second track featured in Squid Game during moments of heightened tension, my arrangement of Pink Soldiers was expanded into a three-minute piece. Unlike my final major project, which prioritized preserving original material when arranging and orchestrating a piece of music, this arrangement afforded me the freedom to introduce new elements and experiment with structure, melodic material, orchestration and harmony.
Maintaining the layered characteristic of the original theme, I focused on creating an organic orchestration with dynamic shifts in timbre to engage all instruments and enhance the enjoyment of the student performers, as all instruments would had opportunities to be at the foreground at some point. Reusing the string glissando effect from my orchestral work CRY, I found that the students adeptly executed this aleatoric string writing, further validating its accessibility and practicality. I also expanded the harmonic language of Pink Soldiers, incorporating rich extended chords reminiscent of jazz and big band styles.
Conceptually, my arrangement functions as a grand Bolero, with the main melodic motif persisting throughout while additional layers provide variation and a sense of progression. Practicality was a central consideration throughout the process, given the ensemble's skill level, which hovered around grade 5. Consequently, many instrumental parts were intentionally kept relatively straightforward, with orchestration often structured in cohesive blocks to facilitate section performances by the students. While prioritizing the preservation of the main melodic motif, the orchestration adopted elements reminiscent of big band arranging, allowing occasional moments of unison and octave doubling to accommodate other impactful effects, such as the striking string glissando featured towards the conclusion of the piece.
CHALLENGES
Expanding a concise thirty-second piece into a three-minute composition posed a creative challenge, requiring a delicate balance between retaining the original material and infusing fresh ideas to propel the piece forward. Drawing inspiration from Ravel's Bolero, I sought to imbue the arrangement with an organic sense of development, despite the repetitive nature of the main melodic motif. By introducing diverse timbral layers and structural nuances, I aimed to create a composition that evolves dynamically, engaging listeners throughout its duration, despite the constant repetition of the main motif.
The most daunting aspect of this project arose from communication challenges with CBSO. Regrettably, due to technical difficulties on the concert day, the planned recording of the arrangement did not materialize. Consequently, the recording featured in this portfolio was graciously performed by the CBSO rather than the intended CBSO Project Remix Orchestra. This experience underscored the importance of personal accountability in recording and backup procedures, regardless of institutional protocols. Nonetheless, I consider it a privilege to have my work performed and recorded by the CBSO. I must also commend the CBSO Project Remix Orchestra for their remarkable performance of my composition at Symphony Hall, achieving an outstanding standard after just two months of rehearsals.
REFLECTION
This project ultimately proved to be a valuable learning experience. The collaboration provided insights into composing for mixed-level ensembles, valuable for future educational endeavours. Moving forward, arranging and orchestrating music will remain a cornerstone of my work as a musician and composer, complementing my ongoing exploration of orchestral and chamber group compositions.