Composing For Strings

Well I searched and didn't find any threads that suited what I am asking.

Strings are my favourite Orchestral instrument, and i've used them in heaps and heaps of songs, but they usually come out sounding quite sloppy. I know there is a particular way to compose for them to make them sound best, so I was wondering if anyone knew any good websites or articles or references that could help me out?

Thanks xD

Jake

This is more advanced stuff but... thought I'd contribute anyway.

http://michaelvincent.ca/Design/Assets/Writing/contemporary%20violin%20tech.pdf

And Samuel Adler's book 'The Study of Orchestration', with audio.

This is more advanced stuff but... thought I'd contribute anyway.

http://michaelvincent.ca/Design/Assets/Writing/contemporary%20violin%20tech.pdf

!! I was looking for something like this. Thanks!

This is more advanced stuff but... thought I'd contribute anyway.

http://michaelvincent.ca/Design/Assets/Writing/contemporary%20violin%20tech.pdf

And Samuel Adler's book 'The Study of Orchestration', with audio.

cool thanks heaps! I'll check it out ASAP :D

I remember all that extended technique writing when listening/studying to George Crumb and Milton Babbitt. Talk about a headache to study. I was like "they wrote WHAT!?!?!?"

Cool guys though!

I prefer Samuel Adler's book to the little booklet of violin techniques, but both are very well written and they are quite reliable as sources of study. Great post, Andy.

I find Adler's book to be quite conservative in terms of instrumentation - I prefer Blatter's book on that.

Also, I've found a very interesting way to look at extended techniques for instruments is to look at notation books (such as Kurt Stone's book on modern notation). And then go off to find a violinist to play it to you and ask him any questions about it.