What are the differences among transcriptions, arrangements and original compositions?
When an instrument evolves within a culture, it frequently plays music created for an older , well-established instrument . When the violin evolved, it undoubtedly played music of the older viol family. Similarly, the early piano played music written for harpsichord. This is true for the accordion as well, a late arrival in the world of instruments. When this occurs, we speak of the music as a transcription. It was written for another instrument or combination of instruments and is now played by the newcomer. Since the accordion is a versatile instrument that can play both melody and harmony, there have been many transcriptions for it. This means the original music is changed very little, except perhaps to fit the range and compass of the new instrument. Here is a transcription of a 19th Century composition by Edvard Grieg that sounds much like the orchestral original.
Unlike a transcription, which is faithful to the original composition, an arrangement takes additional liberties in fitting the music to the new instrument. Parts may be left out and tonalities may be changed. The piece may be lengthened or shortened. This works particularly well for folk music, which has no official version to begin with. The following is an arrangement of a well-known song.
Most instruments play transcriptions and arrangements when they are new to a culture. Two instruments which come to mind are the guitar and harp. But gradually as composers become aware of an instrument's unique capabilties, new compositions are created for it. By then, it has become accepted by many classes of musicians, folk through classical. For example, when the pianoforte evolved in the early 18th Century, there were no original compositions for it. By the beginning of the 19th Century, Beethoven had composed several piano sonatas and concertos JUST for the piano.
The accordion has enjoyed a similar evolution, first being a poor person's symphony orchestra that played transcriptions and arrangements. Gradually totally new compositions are being written for it.