If I want to analyse an orchestral score...

... harmonically and contrapuntally (and ignore the orchestration - except maybe where it becomes a factor in eliminating repetition or something else that's permitted because it's orchestrated that wouldn't be okay in some other contexts), is my best bet to get a piano arrangement from, say, IMSLP and study that?

Yes. hahaha.

I mean, that's the simple answer.

Although, if you really wanted to understand the piece, you would reduce it yourself. ;) THEN, analyze it.

Although, if you really wanted to understand the piece, you would reduce it yourself. ;) THEN, analyze it.

That would take quite a while. But most of the time it's worth it.

Not really. Not if you do it enough.

It also depends on the score. haha. If you're looking at 20th century music forward, there are MANY more independent lines (generally) than the music of 1800-backwards.

And, the orchestras are larger now, generally.

It also depends on the score. haha. If you're looking at 20th century music forward...

... then you most likely won't find it on IMSLP :angry: (not yet in public domain - I couldn't even download Puccini's Turandot, let alone anything from Shostakovich)!

I guess I'm a little spoiled. My college's library is helpful with that problem. haha. I forget other people don't live across the street from one of the largest music libraries in the world. #sorry

I guess I'm a little spoiled. My college's library is helpful with that problem. haha. I forget other people don't live across the street from one of the largest music libraries in the world. #sorry

Yeah, you're spoiled indeed :toothygrin: .

What library are you speaking about? And what kind of 'wonders' can you find there?

PD. It's very hard to try and reduce an orchestral 20th century piece into piano by ear only...

The Cook Music Library at Jacobs School of Music. Indiana University. You can search IUCAT (google it), to find MOST unrestricted stuff you want.

{Pretty much limitless.)

Ok, start with the early Mozart and Hadyn symphonies because you will need to read transposed instruments and the forces are smaller and the techniques more basic. If you want to get the very basics of orchestration - horns, woodwinds and strings - try Stamitz symphony (just 1) and then move forward.