One Morning in May string arrangement

The strings for One Morning in May were arranged by Bill Fulton for Alan Paul’s album Another Place and Time. Fulton created the arrangement of the Hoagy Carmichael and Mitchell Parish standard for a large Los Angeles studio orchestra, with Dennis Farias featured on flugelhorn.

The arrangement was recorded in 2002 at Capitol Studio A in Hollywood. The completed album was released in 2003. Alan Paul, a founding member of The Manhattan Transfer, recorded the project with an extensive group of Los Angeles studio musicians. As a result, the session gave Fulton the opportunity to write for a substantial orchestral ensemble in one of Hollywood’s historic recording studios.

Arranging “One Morning in May”

Fulton’s setting of the song combines the featured vocal with strings, woodwinds, French horns, brass and rhythm section. In addition, Dennis Farias provides the featured flugelhorn voice. The orchestral colors support the melody while preserving the warmth and character of the Hoagy Carmichael composition.

The project also produced an unusual arranging challenge. Fulton initially received the song in the wrong key. He completed the first version of the arrangement before learning that it needed to be written in another key.

At the time, Fulton still created his scores by hand with pencil and manuscript paper. Therefore, changing the key required much more than a simple computer transposition. He had to rewrite the music in the correct key. Nevertheless, he completed the revised arrangement, and the subsequent recording session went well.

Recording at Capitol Studio A

The strings session One Morning in May took place at Capitol Studio A in Hollywood. David Snyder conducted the orchestra, while Bruce Dukov served as concertmaster. The recording included strings, woodwinds, French horns, brass, harp, percussion and rhythm-section musicians.

Alan Paul and David Snyder produced Another Place and Time, with Brady L. Benton serving as executive producer. Other arrangers represented on the album included Snyder, John Rodby and Yaron Gershovsky.

“One Morning in May” appears as track three on the finished album. Although the project featured the scale and personnel of a major orchestral recording, its original release was relatively limited. The recording later became more widely available through digital music services.

A Favorite Orchestral Arrangement

Despite the unexpected rewrite, Fulton remains particularly fond of the finished arrangement. The project brought together a classic American song, Alan Paul’s vocal performance, Dennis Farias on flugelhorn and a large Los Angeles studio orchestra. Consequently, it remains a notable example of Fulton’s work as an arranger for strings and orchestra.

Read more about the recording and complete album credits on the Bill Fulton arranger for Another Place and Time discography page.

Explore more of Bill Fulton’s arranging and composing portfolio, including arrangements for orchestra, chamber ensembles, big band and other instrumental combinations.

Learn more about Alan Paul at The Manhattan Transfer, or hear Another Place and Time on Apple Music.

Year: 2002
Job Category: Arranger
Title: One Morning in May
Ensemble: strings
Client: Alan Paul (Manhattan Transfer) David Snyder (arranger on project)
Description: "Another Place and Time" CD
Get arrangement: link to arrangement (pending)