Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell Suite - 1. Prelude: The Raven King

Off the book by Susanna Clarke. I'm not sure what I think of this piece. it's still fairly rough. Comments are greatly welcomed. Yet again, because this is a Finale Garritan recording, it's fairly quiet; you'll have to wear headphones and turn up the volume all the way to really hear everything.

Name of Piece	MP3
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell Suite - 1. Prelude: The Raven King

I have to go so I'll make some quick comments but I'll come back: 1) Doublebasses typically go to E, not C. Change it. 2) Trumpet in Bb? I love it but either a) make for C trpt or put it in Gb 3) Fix those double sharps.

Okay. Updated both the score and the mp3. Thanks maestrowick! 1, I'll have to go back and re-orchestrate the double basses. 2. Does it make that much of a difference which trumpet it's on? I was under the impression that Bb is the most common kind of trumpet, so I usually just use it. 3. I got rid of some of the double sharps, but I kept a few to show movement in certain areas that I think would make it easier to actualize it - for showing upward motion, etc.

*New score and mp3

C Trumpet is standard in orchestra unless otherwise noted. Studio, Jazz, marching and wind band is in Bb

Hi, without looking at your score - you have done an excellent job here! The mood, colors, dissonance, and intricate detail of some passages are wonderful! - plus, add a little bit of whimsy - awesome. You have a true talent especially for scoring for film...

SS

maestrowick, on 06 May 2011 - 01:43 PM, said:

Ehh, this may be true, but use whatever trumpet you want, and label it either way (so say C trumpet even if it is "standard").

Generally at the beginning of a score you will want to notate "Flue 1-2" if two instruments share a staff. The french horn labeling is especially misleading as you have "horn 1" and "horn 2" but each staff has divisi.

Timpani at that low C# a) is not a reliably available pitch and b) will sound flabby and drummy and more indeterminately pitched.

Your string tremolos, esp. p. 11 and 12 are very messy. For whole notes, the tremolo notation should be directly above or below the note (depending on how high in the staff it is - think stem direction), and should definitely not be in between two notes on the same staff.

I'm not sure whether this applies or not, but notating two notes on the same string part generally indicates a double stop - if you want divisi, write "div." just above a part to indicate that.

You've given the tuba an awfully long time to hold that C# without a breath for the first 12 measures...doable, but not recommended. And there is only one tuba in an orchestra, so stagger breathing is not an option.

Sound-wise this is pretty good, sounds like a solid late-romantic suite. I predict it would go over very well reception-wise.