Uptown Funk Arranged for String Quartet Sheet Music
Contents
Looking for a fun and funky way to liven up your next string quartet performance? Check out our arrangement of “Uptown Funk” by Mark Ronson feat. Bruno Mars!
Introduction
Mark Ronson’s “Uptown Funk” featuring Bruno Mars has taken the world by storm, and this fun arrangement for string quartet captures all the excitement of the original. The rhythmic drive and catchy melody make it a perfect choice for any concert or event.
About the Song
“Uptown Funk” is a song by British-American record producer Mark Ronson from his fourth studio album, Uptown Special (2015), featuring American singer and rapper Bruno Mars. The song was released as the album’s lead single on 10 November 2014 in the United States. Colloquially, the title refers to New York City’s Uptown Manhattan, especially its Harlem neighborhoods.
The Arrangement
This is an arrangement of “Uptown Funk” for string quartet. The arrangement is scored for two violins, viola, and cello.
The Instruments
The string quartet is a musical ensemble of four string players – two violinists, a viola player and a cellist – or a piece written to be performed by such a group. The string quartet is one of the most prominent chamber ensembles in classical music, with most major composers, from the mid 18th century onwards, writing string quartets.
The instruments used in a string quartet are very important to the sound of the ensemble. The two violins usually play the melody, while the viola and cello provide the harmony. The cello usually plays the bass line.
The sound of a string quartet is very different from that of a symphony orchestra or a solo instrument. The four instruments are all equal partners, with each instrument playing an important role in the overall sound.
A string quartet can be described as “intimate” and “introspective”, and it is this intimacy that has made them so popular with composers and audiences alike.
The Musicians
String Quartet arrangement of Uptown Funk by Bruno Mars and Mark Ronson. This fun and funky chart is sure to be a hit with your students!
The string quartet is made up of four musicians playing string instruments. The most common string quartet instrumentation is two violins, a viola, and a cello.
The Performance
The string quartet arrangement of “Uptown Funk” is a faithful yet creative adaptation of the original song. The piece begins with the violins playing the iconic opening riff, followed by the rest of the quartet joining in on the groove. The arrangement stays true to the original form of the song, with each section being reprised as it was in the original recording. However, there are also some unique moments in this arrangement, such as when all four instruments play syncopated rhythms together, or when the cello takes a solo turn in the middle of the piece. Overall, this arrangement is a fun and stylish way to perform “Uptown Funk” with a small group of musicians.
The Recordings
The recorded version of “Uptown Funk” was produced by Jeff Bhasker, Mike Zirinsky, Phillip Lawrence and Bruno Mars. It was released as the lead single from Mars’ album on November 10, 2014. The song features Mars on lead vocals and Mark Ronson on bass guitar and horns.
“Uptown Funk” is an uptempo, soulful funk song with E-flat major as its root key. The song’s instrumentation includes bass guitar and horns. The arrangement also features syncopated drumming (the drums lay back on some beats while emphasis is placed on others) and a distinctive horn section riff.
The Videos
To help you get started, we’ve included a few videos of performances of the Uptown Funk string quartet arrangement. Just hit play and enjoy!
The Sheet Music
Arrangement for string quartet of the song “Uptown Funk” by Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars. Includes parts for 1st and 2nd violins, viola, and cello.
