Words and music by Sting; Arranged by Elena Fortin
This is an intermediate piano solo arrangement of the beautiful song “Fields of Gold” with words and music composed by Sting.
I have been working on arrangements that have stood the test of time and that I consider to be beautiful and inspirational. It is hard to believe that this piece was released back in 1993 (30 years ago). It was first featured on Sting’s solo album “Ten Summoner’s Tales” and is also beautifully covered by Eva Cassidy.
I remember discovering a cool study area at Ottawa University known as the “Listening Rooms”. Comfy furniture and desks let you do endless hours of studying or reading while being serenaded by various DJs that would play new music. One of the DJs was obsessed with this album–we’d hear it on repeat while we were studying. (I’m pretty sure they put it in the player and forgot about it!) Needless to say, this song imprinted itself on my brain, and now I am revisiting it (thirty years later!!!) with a tender treatment of his lovely ballade.
Having moved to the Sunshine State, I’ve adopted Sting’s Fields of Gold for this wonderful landscape that is bathed in this wonderful golden light–his piece speaks to me in a different way now, but that is the beauty of revisiting music–you can remember the time and place where you heard it for the first time.
About the arrangement
I took liberties with the intro to this piece, using Sting’s chord progression as a framework for a different kind of lead in to the verse and chorus. In the middle section, instead of the “solo” section being a repeat of the verse, I used his chord progressions as a framework for a melody that sometimes stays true to the original, and sometimes wanders in new directions.
The piece is written in the key of D major and has a fairly simple left hand pattern. The rhythm may be tricky for some people–always aim for a smooth flow of eighth notes if possible. The tied notes just add rhythmic interest! Adding pedal to the piece will help with that ethereal sound that is so much a part of the original piece.
As I said above, I also listened to (and loved!) Eva Cassidy’s rendition of “Fields of Gold”. Her version is beautiful, and slightly slower than Sting’s but both are pretty amazing! Use the metronome marking as a guide–you get to decide whether you like it slower or faster!
Video Performance
Purchase Information
Clicking on the link below will bring you to a new site: Sheet Music Plus. This arrangement is under copyright with the ArrangeMe program by Hal Leonard.
Sheet Music Plus – Fields of Gold
Sheet Music Sample
