After a two-week break to focus on USC ASCE‘s Concrete Canoe Competition, I’m back at it arranging the music for Kati’s concert.

This weekend I’m working on two very different, and very powerful, songs: Climb Ev’ry Mountain and Rolling in the Deep. Climb Ev’ry Mountain, from The Sound of Music, is a laid back piece that will feature a flute solo. Rolling in the Deep is a very popular pop tune that’s one of Kati’s (and Gemma’s) favorites.

When we were selecting songs for the concert, one of Kati’s favorite sources of music was The Sound of Music. From that, I selected Climb Ev’ry Mountain because it will provide a nice break from the mostly loud, up-tempo songs in the rest of the concert, and because this song features some really interesting harmonic motion. This sort of harmonic movement is common in musicals, but very uncommon in most “pop” music, so it’ll provide a nice contrast and should be really cool with the addition of flute!

Rolling in the Deep, on the other hand, is a thick, almost dark pop tune with infectiously driving rhythms. A perfect counterpoint to Climb Ev’ry Mountain, the songs will be performed back-to-back at Kati’s Concert. We’ll be adding drums to the cello arrangement to really highlight the repetitive rhythmic patterns from the original version, with fewer different cello parts complimenting the song’s simpler harmonic systems. I’ll also attempt to emulate Adele’s legendary voice on trumpet, with others attempting the same on cello.

I know our musicians are excited to get to work on both songs, so we’ll be posting the sheet music for them as soon as it’s completed.