sethb - Posted - 07/13/2021:  12:36:21

I was just wondering why commercially published arrangements of the 1920's - 1940's were called "stock" arrangements.  I found a definition of "stock arrangement" on the Columbia University Jazz Archives website, but it simply says that "it is a commercially published arrangement," which sort of begs the question.

I did read somewhere that "stock arrangement" supposedly refers to the fact that you used to be able to buy these arrangements in music stores, which kept them "in stock," so therefore they were "stock arrangements," as opposed to some special one-off arrangement written up separately by a composer, bandleader or arranger.  Hmmmmm. 

Then I thought about "summer stock" theater, which supposedly got the name because these places would offer versions of older Broadway shows, re-using "stock" scenery  (generic scenery that could be adapted to numerous other shows).  And I believe the term "stock player" refers to a roster of so-called "character actors" under contract to a movie studio back in the day, and who could be used in various films portraying basically the same type of character.  But nether of these terms seems to apply to a musical "stock" arrangement. 

Can anyone shed any more light on this?  Thanks!  SETH  

mmuussiiccaall - Posted - 07/13/2021:  17:09:06

My old BIG BAND was little, one of each instrument. We would get the chart from say N.Y.C. and figure which instrument had a critical part to make the song sound correctly or mesh clarinet1 and clarinet2 together etc. The rhythm section always played what was written.

trapdoor2 - Posted - 07/13/2021:  17:36:00

I think it is closer to "store stock". A stock arrangement is one that you could buy from a store's stock of music. Common. Hackneyed.

This is as opposed to music professionally arranged for a particular orchestra, ensemble or occasion.

The next lower version would be "fake-book", where all the arrangements are bare-bones melody + chords and all in the same key (usually C).

banjoak - Posted - 07/13/2021:  18:59:41

Stock arrangements were probably more in reference to performing popular hits of the day; and typical popular arrangement. Bands/orchestras could purchase sheet music with professional arrangements already worked out... rather than work out their own. There was a copyright aspects involved as well, granting permission to performing those arrangements of popular hits.

Those professional arrangements were expensive and protected by copyright to them. Each musician in band needed to purchase a legal copy to perform. "Fake books" were originally about idea of essentially playing those popular hits (and often arrangements), but without paying for the legal sheet music.

sethb - Posted - 07/14/2021:  05:43:54

In looking at a few "stock arrangements" that are held by public university libraries, I've sometimes seen the phrase "Professional Copy" stamped on them.  That leads me to believe that in addition to being sold at retail, these in-house arrangements were apparently also given away to various bands by song pluggers, who hoped the tunes would be played publicly, and would then increase the sale of sheet music for the songs. 

I've also seen lead sheets that are a step above fake books, with their single-note melody line and chord changes, but which are a step below a formal arrangement, with the various separate parts.  These lead sheets have the melody line with an additional note below each melody note (notated as a two-note chord).  I imagine this was done so that two saxes or brass could play in harmony with each other, for example, using the same lead sheet.  SETH

Ira Gitlin - Posted - 07/14/2021:  06:49:30

quote:

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Originally posted by sethb

I was just wondering why commercially published arrangements of the 1920's - 1940's were called "stock" arrangements.  I found a definition of "stock arrangement" on the Columbia University Jazz Archives website, but it simply says that "it is a commercially published arrangement," which sort of begs the question.

 

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Kudos for using "begs the question" correctly. That's so rare these days!

mmuussiiccaall - Posted - 07/14/2021:  07:52:11

some info
bigbandlibrary.com/stockarrangements.html

sethb - Posted - 07/14/2021:  13:49:05

quote:

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Originally posted by Ira Gitlin

quote:

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Originally posted by sethb

I was just wondering why commercially published arrangements of the 1920's - 1940's were called "stock" arrangements.  I found a definition of "stock arrangement" on the Columbia University Jazz Archives website, but it simply says that "it is a commercially published arrangement," which sort of begs the question.

 

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Kudos for using "begs the question" correctly. That's so rare these days!

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Guess I'm just an old-fashioned guy!  But thanks for the kind words.  SETH