August 11th, 2008
by admin
The Art of Orchestration
Otherwise known as ‘Or-Castration’
Orchestration is the study or practice of writing music for orchestra, (or any musical ensemble) or for adapting orchestra music composed for another medium. It only gradually over the course of music history came to be regarded as a ‘compositional art’ in itself.
In order to orchestrate effectively, one needs to know about the instruments for which one is writing. In an orchestra, there are 4 main families: woodwinds, brass, percussion and strings. Within each family there are subgroups. For example: no reed/single reed/double reed woodwinds or pitched and non-pitched percussion instruments. Each instrument is individual and unique and one is often orchestrating for at least 20 instruments (oftentimes more) in a fully orchestral piece.
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August 7th, 2008
by admin
Musical Intelligence
We are all musically intelligent.
I’m on bar 113 for this new orchestral piece I that am working on. There are lots of compositional issues now, as well as possibilities. This composing thing is rather like playing a game of chess in some ways. As a piece unfolds, one sees problems: compositional, technical, form-based, orchestration issues and so on. Deciding on the next ‘move’ can box one into a corner, or can open up other ways of ‘getting to the end’. Of course, winning the game would mean that one is totally and completely happy with the final outcome. I don’t win often!
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August 5th, 2008
by admin
Knit One, Pearl Two
The first entry explaining some of the fundamentals involved in writing for the orchestra.
A few people have asked me to explain the process I undertake in writing a piece of music. Likely my process is a little unusual on this site, as I use composition software to create music and don’t actually use a keyboard or an ‘instrument’ per se. Although I play lots of instruments, I’ve gravitated towards composing using notation software because it keeps me focussed on the compositional process. Give me a piano, and I’ll just tinker away; give me software and I will start shaping sound.
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