how to score a piece

when i have researched scores, i have found them to all have 1) the instruments in score order and 2) to have a different way of displaying the instruments. for instance, some scores combine 1 and 2 parts onto the same stave for flutes, clarinets, bassoons, horns, trumpets, trombones, etc. is there a correct way to do this? or should i just list each part out on separate staves? my ensemble is: 2 fl (1 pic), 2 ob, 2 cl., 2 bs, 4 hn, 2 tpt, 3 tbn, 1 tba, timp, violin 1/2, vla, vc, db.

thank you

Up to your prefrence I think, at least for #2.

It really depends on the music.

If your 2 flutes play the same generally or slightly simmilar lines, you don't need a 2nd staff. If they go all over the place in solo mode, then you might need 2 staves. Same for everything else really. In one of my scores the 1st strings are divided in 6 staves. Solo mode, all of them.

You will need another staff for the pic. but the rest seem normal really.

Same goes for the strings. If your div. lines are normal and without much hussle, notate them on the same staff. If you start getting too complicated then use a 2nd staff for each section of the strings.

The instrument order is as you display them (at least seem to be) in the order of your 2nd observation.

3 Tbns, will need 2 staves, since 1 will be bass tbn and the other 2 will be tenor, no? :)

hope it helps

Score order is important - conductors are used to it and if you do something non-standard, you run the risk of a poor performance or frustration from the conductor (miscues, etc.). No conductor ever wants to look confused, it bruises their ego. :whistling:

As far as number of staves, that's a personal preference. I found that when I use two instruments on one stave (Flute 1 & 2), I write simpler, less interesting parts, due to it being "difficult" to align them (when I used to write by hand) or being confusing to the eye and having to deal with note/element collisions (when I use Finale).

When I began separating instruments each to their own staff, I started treating the instruments as individuals and my music became more interesting, more engaging for the players, and more textured. (no more, "ooh look, woodwinds in 3rd/6ths for an entire piece...") I think that the theory behind the change is that when you limit yourself to a single staff, you cease treating players as individuals and start thinking of them as just a group.

I highly recommend separate staves for all instruments. When I set up a score in Finale I even add extra staves from the get-go for instruments that I may divide, such as strings (for orchestral works) or clarinets (for symphonic band works).

For strings, in particular, I may set up three or four extra staves for each voice. I can always delete unused staves when I finish the piece! And to top it off, it makes generating the performer's parts so much easier.

Hey Flint!

Whatever happened to that string piece of yours with the plenty of div. around? :) Was wondering about that recently... (no matter how bizzare it seems :P)

This discussion reminded me of a question, what do I do (I use Sibelius) when I have so many instruments in a score that the staves actually overlap each other?

Hey Flint!

Whatever happened to that string piece of yours with the plenty of div. around? :) Was wondering about that recently... (no matter how bizzare it seems :P)

Hiya, Nikolas! I posted the first movement of that piece in the Incomplete Works section, but I believe since I didn't post an audio, it didn't receive any attention. (Since almost every instrument has it's own line, it's difficult to get a suitable audio file from this score, especially since the timbres are all basically the same or very close)

The thread is here.

This discussion reminded me of a question, what do I do (I use Sibelius) when I have so many instruments in a score that the staves actually overlap each other?

Resize your staves, resize your pages, adjust the distance between the staves, etc. I know Sibelius is capable of it, but being a Finale user, I can't give you further advice than that.