waltz | Popped String Arrangements

We’ve been arranging some recent Americana hits for string quartet, and their soft, sentimental feel is an excellent fit for string ensembles. First, we return to the Twilight movie series soundtrack with “Flightless Bird, American Mouth” by Iron and Wine. This song gives strings the chance to play a gentle, lilting, country-western waltz. Then, we return to Popped String favorite Jason Mraz for his song “I Won’t Give Up.” This is an excellent addition to the “I’m Yours” string quartet and string trio arrangements that have been so popular for weddings. Finally, we stay close to home with Los Angeles band Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros with a string quartet arrangement of their hit “Home.” Hopefully, this will be the first in a series of arrangements featuring our local favorites.

And then, what do you call Australian Americana music? Australiana? Hmm. Well, we arranged for string quartet the song chosen for a recent Australian tourism campaign that has become a big hit on its own: “It’s Like Love” by Dewayne Everettsmith and Jasmine Beams. To translate this duet of singer/guitarist and violist to string quartet, we pass the vocal and viola melodies between the violin 1, violin 2, and viola parts. This creates a lot of movement and sound variety.

Keep your eyes on this page for more Americana/folk/country-western arrangements, and contact us with your requests.

September was a busy time for Popped String. In the Southern Hemisphere, everyone’s getting ready for beautiful spring weddings. Up in the Northern Hemisphere, it’s time for elegant autumn weddings. And of course, everyone has different ideas for the best, most personal music for their ceremony.

For string quartet, we arranged a pair of newer heavy metal songs that take on a baroque quality when played by strings: “Toxicity” by System of a Down” and “Vermilion Pt. 2” by Slipknot. Also, “Love Is All Around” by the Troggs and made popular again by Wet Wet Wet for the movie Four Weddings and a Funeral. Also, “Love” by John Lennon, “So in Love with You” by Texas, “The Blower’s Daughter” by Damien Rice, and “If I Had $1,000,000” by Barenaked Ladies.

For string trio, we got the chance to take our version of “Just Like Heaven” by The Cure and turn it into a romantic waltz. We also arranged “Today Was a Fairytale” by Taylor Swift, “Bless the Broken Road” by Rascal Flatts, and the string-heavy pop classic “Bittersweet Symphony” by The Verve.

We also adapted some of our string trio arrangements for string quartet: “Falling Slowly” by Glen Hansard from the movie Once, “Can’t Help Falling in Love” by Elvis Presley, Popped String favorite “Raiders March” by John Williams from the movie Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark, and “Just Like Heaven” by The Cure (not a waltz version).

We’re still working on new requests through October, but email anytime with your requests!

Americana and Australian tourism hits

September at Popped String