Orchestration: PART 1 (woodwinds) discussion

Here's my excercise.

But wouldn't that push that high F out of the range of the oboe?

No. The oboe can get up to the high C, but nobody with any sense ever writes that high. That's probably why QC didn't mention it.

Originally Posted by oboeducky

Here's my excercise.

can I ask you to add one detail?

I'd like to know if there are unisons or solos of the woodwinds you use.

Don't forget that we have 2 of each to deal with.

oops *blushes*

The beginning with bassoon and flute is 1 player per part. When the bassoon drops out, it's a unison for all but the flute, which is a solo. Measure 9 to the end is a unison for all parts.

Originally Posted by oboeducky

Here's my excercise.

let me comment on your orchestration (sorry for the delay)

I think the first five measures would not quite give the effect you're hoping for. The bassoon is a BIT high for that. To make it mellow, you would have more success with clarinets and flutes. Remember that the clarinet tone is mellow, and the flute is clear. Both oboe and bassoon have relatively pungent, nasal, tonal qualities.

Now, the next section (with the crescendo) I think would work best if you created octaves for the different instruments instead of the unison doublings you have. And while we have a crescendo it's not time to cut out instruments (what? no bassoon?).

I see a problem with the eighth measure... the clarinets sudden leap up an octave will heavily alter the tonal quality. You WILL sense that octave leap, even if it is in the middle of that large unison because it creates a sort of void in the lower register of woodwinds. now, if your bassoons were below that to sustain the lwoer part it might not be quite as noticable.

at measure 9, you have basically 6 instruments, two of each tone colour, playing in unison. The effect will be very "strong". It will probably not have quite the meditative or mellow tone you are looking for.

and for the very last iteration of the motif (measure 12) why not simply one flute and one clarinet? or one flut and one oboe... in unison?

this is something to look for when you are orchestrating: octaves of instruments bring out qualities that unisons cannot. particularly when you are comparing octaves or unisons of the SAME instrument.

I don't think your orchestration will sound "bad", but you may be dissappointed by the result... it will probably not give quite the effect you are hoping for.

still a very good try.

I'd like to see you try again but considering the use of octaves and blended timbres.

just for you (all others may NOT try this yet until their homework is handed in) I'd like you to pick notes out of the accompaniment now and create a parallel "harmony" voice for the woodwinds. no more "unison". If you can create a line of 3rds or 4ths, then do so. Don't try and compose a counterpoint. Think of this as a "harmonic" unison.

as a note: please check regularly, as I am adding material to the course thread every few days. Sometimes it's additions within the thread, sometimes new posts at the end. Ths is all material you should become thoroughly familiar with over time.

Originally Posted by Qccowboy

oop. I DID specify in the sign-up thread that I will only work with Finale files for this course.

you COULD use MIDI file, but I don't like that none of the fine-tuning of notation is included.

Hang on, what sign up thread??

Originally Posted by 920bpm

Hang on, what sign up thread??

aHA! you're not part of my group, are you!

well, technically, you needed to sign up at this thread:

SIGN UP HERE!!!

if you read back a bit from that post, I specify that I will only work with Finale files since I do not use Sibelius, and the work will require the ability to put in dynamics and phrase markings which are not really do-able in a MIDI file.

Exercise in attachment.

Originally Posted by djsell

Exercise in attachment.

absolutely beautiful, djsell.

you could also have started the "a due" section one note early with SOME instruments... creating a sort of graduated crescendo.

Thanks muchly!

As for that suggestion, were you talking about specific instruments (I'm thinking that doing that with the Flutes would work best) or was that just a general suggestion?