My Foray into Arranging Music-1972

My school had A Capella and Madrigal Choirs. I was only in A Capella. My choir teacher while good, still had much of the "Elevator Music" generation in him. He came upon an arrangement of "Peace Train" that I felt butchered Cat Stevens song. He chose this as the number the Madrigals would perform at our graduation. I couldn't let that happen! We were Woodstock and this arrangement was Elevator! I took a copy of the music and started making copies. Cutting and pasting. No Computers, barely a Xerox and me with no knowlege of arranging. But I cut and pasted then re-Xeroxed, had the choir accompanist check and re-check. After what seemed like an eternity, I restored the work to something I felt Cat Stevens would approve of for SATB. The Madrigals used my arrangement, and the conductor allowed me to sing with them at my graduation in return for my efforts.