Archilochus colubris (Wind Quintet)

My first wind quintet with sib5/GPO. This was another quick one. Maybe 4-5 hours went into this one. I did it over a course of several days. The first night I put about an hour into it at about 10 minutes at a time. Then a few minutes here and there betweeen studying and then a few more hours tonight to finish it up and get the mix right.


Archilochus colubris (The Ruby Throated Hummingbird)

Flitting around between drinks of nectar, The Ruby throat sparkling in the afternoon sun.

Comments, suggestions and insults will be appreciated

Here is the MP3

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That's a very heavy and erudite title for such a light airy composition . The mood of a hummingbird flitting about is captured quite well and the piece has a good flow.

I don't hear any problems - according to Rimsky-Korsakov, the flute and clarinet can play very rapidly, the oboe and bassoon are not quite as agile, and the horn is not at all agile.

Well done.

Originally Posted by Euler

I don't hear any problems - according to Rimsky-Korsakov, the flute and clarinet can play very rapidly, the oboe and bassoon are not quite as agile, and the horn is not at all agile.

Don't believe everything you read, especially when it's over a hundred years old and for the greater part, extremely dated.

The oboe and bassoon are quite agile, especially in regards to large leaps. The horn is not as stodgy as one would expect, either.

I realize the Rimsky-Korsakov text is attractive because it's free and to a point accurate, but there are many better options out there for the serious (and not dead) composer. An excellent instrumentation text is Alfred Blatter's "Instrumentation and Orchestration", or Kennan's "Technique of Orchestration". I can't recommend Piston's "Orchestration" because I find his ideas extremely dated, boring, and I feel he writes like a sanctimonious jerk (I could use stronger language...). Forsyth's "Orchestration" is a dull read, and like Rimsky-Korsakov's book, is old, dated, and conservative.

flint-wwrr

Okay, thanks for the recommendations. I do realize that Rimsky-Korsakov is outdated (I bought mine years ago when books were less costly, the two volumes, text and sample scores, bound as one). I am shopping for a newer book on orchestration. I was considering Piston's book but now maybe not.

There is the question of whether I want to tackle the complexities of large ensembles and full orchestras. I see some music here ar YC that seems to be many instruments "thrown" at a musical idea without much purpose. Some musical ideas may be best expressed with small ensembles and that may well be the case for me, at least at this time.

I assume the two books you suggest would be useful for woodwind and string ensembles, or various trios.

[Apologies to Ron as this has wandered off topic.]

I think a good orchestration text would apply equally well to large ensembles or small ensembles... or for that matter, single instruments. No worries!

[my apologies to Ron as well!]

Sorry guys I do not accept your apologies!!! In fact I am so Pissed that I demand satisfaction.

I will meet both of you at sundown outside the corral with my six guns at my side. This town just aint big enough for all of us.

Herb

Since you did give me your opinion of the piece, I will shoot you second. No need to thank me, it is only fair.

Flint

You didn't say if you liked the piece or not, so I gotta shoot you first. But being a gentleman, I will allow you to draw first.

Ron

*chuckle* Unfortunately, posts I make during the weekday are from work and I can't listen at that point.

I enjoyed the piece immensely and would love to see a score. This reminds me a lot of some of the wonderful modern works my wind quintet in college would perform.

Originally Posted by flint-wwrr

*chuckle* Unfortunately, posts I make during the weekday are from work and I can't listen at that point.

I enjoyed the piece immensely and would love to see a score. This reminds me a lot of some of the wonderful modern works my wind quintet in college would perform.

It is Sunday, so no shooting today.

I added the score to the original post as well.

Thanks for the listen

Ron

Very fluid writing here Ron. And your voice comes shinning through, although I am hearing some nice melodic melody lines especial at the end with the closing progressions.
You have successfully captured your subject! A great work in such a short period of time.

Michael

Thanks Michael

I am now somewhere around 40 hours on the finale of Invasion and am almost ready to send it to you again. It is all roughed out, but I am not sure if it all fits together. This is the longest time I have ever spent on a 6 minute piece and still have my doubts.

This one here about the Hummingbird was to clear my senses. But I know it needs some work as well. Later!!

Thanks again

Ron