The original title of this topic was Tonight, and it was posted in Instrumentals. However, the ideas behind what Torben has said deserve more of an airing, mainly because the Instrumentals section is for Members Only, and where it is now can be read by Guests as well as Members.
Your objectives when arranging a piece of music to play?
When setting out to play a piece of music, what are you trying to achieve?
One approach can always be to try and get as close to the original arrangement as possible. Torben has done this with his "Tonight" recording, which he explains below.
Dear fellow musicians
When a composer creates a song he/she usually sets up a style/tempo or similar especially for this achievement.
This song can of course be played differently by others - in another tempo/style/rhytm etc.
But this would - in my view - many times “betray” the original idea of the composer. Which I hate to do.
Instead I usually stay as close as I can to the the composers idea. Or leave the song completely.
You might call the song the same as the original. But - do not be fooled - it is your own song - nothing like the original. Could be better or - unfortunately - in many case a lot worse. Which is not surprising. You are not the professional here…
So - in spite that some songs here on this forum are brought forward by the same name - I bring you my version of the original song “tonight” by the great composer Mr. L Bernstein:
Do a right-click to open this up in a New Tab.
https://app.box.com/s/rdx3nh6o8v41b1m3k87n64svalq19bho
This is a dramatic song in the musical. A song of do or die. Imagine the macho hero Tony in the musical singing this song in the rhumba rythm! Completely unthinkable! Out of question. Period!
Please enjoy - or hate!
Kind regards
Torben