Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra is an orchestra known for putting up their arrangements of popular tunes that everyone knows and loves. Some of the pieces have a striking similarity to the original recordings of each of the songs, but some of them, including some of the remakes off of the Pop Go the Beatles have instrumental  passages that sound nothing like the original songs.

One of my favorites by the RPO is their cover of (you guessed it) “Bridge Over Troubled Water.” I am a lover of things melodically and harmonically that are over the top. Maybe the message of the original song may be lost, but the treasure of the arrangement is particularly golden. Add the choir awes in the chorus of the song adding that extra angelic quality. It is so beautiful that I can’t stop listening  to it. It is often looked down upon for being too kitschy. But there are reasons for the kitschiness, being that as an arranger, you are obliged to take on clever arrangements and techniques of the song. Being creative is part of the job. It is the job. The details are all on display and that’s what’s meant to happen. RPO is such a fabulous orchestra and I will continue listening to their works and recordings.