Pierre Duchesne: How, where and when to hire an arranger

Bass guitarist Pierre Duchesne is best known as an arranger for his contribution to the work of Kevin Parent (including the triple-platinum-selling album Pigeon d’argile) and Claire Pelletier. Much in demand among top Quebec record producers, his album arrangements can be heard on Jeff Lamothe’s La Rose des sables and Laurence Jalbert’s Avant le Squall. He has also worked on Paul Piché’s recordings.

The arranger’s contribution
An arranger assists the artist and producer in crafting the best possible sound environment for the work being recorded. The songwriter/artist may be looking for a pop sound for a radio-oriented release, or for more of a classical orchestral feel. It’s the arranger’s job to shape and direct an orchestration so that it comes as close as possible to the songwriter’s stated goal. Some writers want to be surprised by an arrangement, to hear something they didn’t imagine or anticipate. Others have a clear idea of what they want on a particular song but they lack the musical skills or experience to realize it themselves.

When to make the call
The best time to involve an arranger is early on, after the music and lyrics are written, but before the structure of the song is locked in. It’s ideal to start with a stripped-down version of a song: just a voice with piano or guitar. Because of its often exploratory nature, arranging thrives on risks.

How to find an arranger
Arrangers are often selected on the basis of their reputation in the industry, or they may be referred by colleagues in the business. Artists are occasionally captivated by the unique sound of a particular song or recording so they’ll seek out whoever arranged that work. Record companies can often track down a particular arranger for you. Listening to an arranger’s previous work for a variety of different artists is always a good idea. Best advice is to trust your own instincts and maybe go for lesser-known arrangers, people whose rates are more affordable and may see your recording as a springboard for their own careers.

Individual working preferences
Some arrangers work on their own and then share the results with the rest of the team. Others prefer jam sessions with a number of studio musicians. One distinct advantage of the latter approach is that it allows the songwriter to witness the evolution of the arrangement as the recording progresses. A good arranger has generally listened to a songwriter/ performer’s previous albums ahead of time, in order to pinpoint the most desirable sound for a specific song or album.

What’s it cost?
Arrangers’ fees vary but you can generally expect to pay anywhere from $500 to $1,000 per song, usually payable by the record producer or (in the case of a self-produced record or demo) by the artist. Songwriters/artists and arrangers should agree up-front on exactly how much time and money will be involved on any given project.

(Interview by Sylvain-Claude Filion.)

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