The Sound Of Silence: Accordion

This arrangement gives accordionists a chance to own a genuinely iconic pop song rather than play it as an afterthought on a secondary instrument. The four pages contain enough musical substance to feel like a legitimate solo piece while remaining accessible enough for intermediate players to perform convincingly.

Melancholic but never maudlin. The accordion's vocal quality suits Simon & Garfunkel's introspective lyricism, creating a sound that feels both intimate and timeless. There's a haunting quality to the arrangement that lets the instrument breathe.

Intermediate to advanced accordionists looking for repertoire that audiences recognize and respect. This works equally well for solo performance, as part of a chamber ensemble, or as an accompaniment feature in a mixed ensemble setting.

• Find the emotional restraint in the opening measures. This song lives in its quietness, so resist the urge to fill space with extra ornamentation.
• Balance the bass line and melody clearly so the harmonic foundation doesn't muddy the vocal line when you're accompanying or doubling it.
• Pay attention to the dynamics marked in the score. Dynamic control separates a thin performance from one that builds genuine tension.

Pair this with other 1960s and 1970s singer-songwriter material for a program exploring how these artists influenced contemporary composition and arrangement. It also serves as an excellent bridge piece between classical accordion repertoire and modern popular music in a recital context.

• Phrasing and shaping long melodic lines with dynamic control
• Balance between bass register accompaniment and treble melody
• Interpreting vocal writing on an instrumental voice
• Emotional restraint and space in performance