String Quartet String Quartet - Level 5 - Digital Download
SKU: A0.749226
By Beyonce Featuring Jay-Z. By Beyonce Knowles, Eugene Record, Rich Harrison, and Sean Carter. Arranged by HELEN MARPLE-HORVAT. Contemporary. Score and parts. 15 pages. Helen Marple-Horvat #5028989. Published by Helen Marple-Horvat (A0.749226).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nbV9vSBktM
Crazy in Love was released on Beyonce’s debut solo album ‘Dangerously in Love’ in 2003 and featured the rapper Jay-Z. It reached number one in both British and USA charts, and the top ten in many countries across the world.
I really loved arranging this for string quartet and hope that it will give you pleasure to play. I have placed this piece within the Advanced category. In rehearsal with Capriccio Quartet and we tried it various tempi between70 and 84 bpm. Provided the energy is present in the playing it sounds just as good at a slower speed!
Younger players could also tackle this song, which is in an easy key for strings. Although some of the rhythmic patterns appear difficult on the page, the key is to listen to the song and to do them by ear. There is not a lot of syncopation, and the on-beat semi quavers sound wonderful on strings. If they are played vigorously, with all the staccato and accents in the score, you can get away with a much slower speed altogether. As usual, the bowing is just a guide and the double stopping always includes an open string. On the rare occasion that the double stopping includes two notes without the open string, choose one of them that is not doubled in one of the other parts.
Where there is a dynamic ‘p’ it is important to observe it. There are some very dissonant harmonies in this piece. Playing them loudly will sound a bit odd, but I tried leaving them out and the result was a drop in tension. There is a major/minor thing going on throughout the song that is very subtle.
Please visit my Youtube Channel at ‘Helen Marple-Horvat Songwriter, Arranger, Composer’ for playlists of all my arrangements, most of which have been recorded. All but three are available from Sheet Music Plus.
