Alex Weidmann

I don't really know what's considered virtuosic in the bassoon? Maybe lots of big rapid leaps across the register break? Apparently Vivaldi wrote 39 bassoon concerti! So they may be a good place to start for inspiration. Meanwhile I've added some new material for the bassoon, so it's more prominent. Not quite sure what to do with the new coda? Maybe it could be longer; or perhaps keep it short and sweet?

Many thanks for your review Peter. Do you think this can be salvaged; or should just rip it up and start again? I can't make it too virtuosic, as I'm writing for an amateur bassoonist. I had a choice of instruments, and decided bassoon would be the most challenging. Since it's a quiet instrument, it doesn't come through very strongly against the orchestra. Plus it's in the bass register: so maybe not a natural instrument to carry the melody. I was trying to create a dialogue between the bassoon and orchestra, using call and response. Guess I haven't done a very good job though. The 5-minute time limit is also a challenge, since it doesn't give much opportunity for development.

Thanks Peter. Was this a suite you'd not heard before? Will definitely try your suggestion with the strings. Think slurs would probably help too. The flute renditions are the most problematic for me. I don't like the sound where two virtual flutes are playing the same line. I did this because the melodies were sometimes being drowned out by the rest of the orchestra. Think I might resolve the problem by using a single flute track with the fader pushed up, rather than having two flutes.

Hi to all. I've recently been asked to write a 5 minute piece for chamber orchestra, prominently featuring the bassoon. A sort of mini bassoon concerto if you will, for a concert next summer. Here's what I have so far. Only started writing it two days ago: so it's not remotely finished, and I haven't put in slurs or articulation yet. Some of the dynamics are just for the midi playback. Wanted to ask my fellow composers if you think it's any good? And where it needs improvements? As usual I wrote it mostly by instinct, and didn't really think much about voice leading, or harmonic progressions. As some of you know, I quite like sparse textures; but I wonder if it's a little too sparse? Also whether it features the bassoon prominently enough to hit the brief? A critique of my harmonic progressions and orchestration would be very helpful. Also I don't have a name for it yet: so any suggestions welcome! (Updated versions will be posted below.)

Few little updates to this one, and an improved score.

Hi to all. This is my latest orchestration, and it's been my most challenging by far! Still needs loads of work on the enharmonic spelling, as I used a midi file as my original source. Also need to add more slurs, etc... I'm guessing the flutes and oboes would struggle to play this? Probably not giving them enough time to breathe? Thinking I may need to use brass and percussion more often, and perhaps less woodwind? Obviously some of my score features are designed for midi playback, and not suitable for a conductor's score (e.g. long hairpins under multi-bar rests). Quite pleased with the rendition though. I spent a lot of time balancing it. The midi I used was the version for two pianos: so it has some differences with Dvorak's original arrangement for strings and harmonium. I decided to leave these in place, as I think they suit the orchestral setting better than the original melodic lines. Anyway, hope you enjoy! (N.B. Updated versions will be posted lower down the thread.)

Thanks Peter and Mark! This one has been orchestrated before apparently; but it's one of Ravel's more obscure piano works: so not widely known.

Thanks Mark. May give that a try.

Thanks Peter and Mark! Just hope I can get it performed somehow. I'm working on Dvorak's Five Bagatelles for my next orchestration (which is proving a bit of a nightmare!)

Turns out the BBCSO issue was down to Spitfire, not MuseScore. It seems they've updated their software recently, and done it in a particularly stupid way, forcing customers to re-download every single instrument pack one by one from scratch!

Far as I know, this Ravel prelude from 1913 has never been orchestrated before (unless any of you know different?) So here is my attempt. I've used fermata of various lengths to create rubato. I wonder if I should use more dynamics? (Though MuseScore tends to exaggerate them.)

I like the orchestration: it's very cinematic, with moments of contrast, tension and release. You don't often see a basset horn these days! I tend to associate those with Mozart, as I think he used them in his requiem.

Thanks Mark! I seem to have caught the orchestration bug recently. Have made another one today, this time of a never previously orchestrated Prelude by Ravel.

This one's so short and beautiful, I couldn't resist orchestrating it tonight! Whilst working on it, I discovered a weird bug in MuseScore, that causes low dynamic quaver triplets to be played as semiquavers, with an extra note added to the front! Seems to affect all instruments. After about an hour of fiddling around, I finally managed to get rid of it by raising the dynamics of that phrase to mezzo forte. They also seem to have broken vst3 support, as my copy of Spitfire BBCSO lite will no longer load. I just get a Spitfire control box with an error message. Wondered if anyone else here is having the same problems?

How about this version? I've basically split the difference between the tempo of my original rendition, and the piano performance mentioned above. Also added lots of tempo variations.