Orchestration (Mendelssohn)

Hello

On this occasion, and to increase my skills with regard to brass instruments, I have orchestrated a song by Mendelssohn, Op. 19 No. 3 (Hunting Song), originally for solo piano.

The ensemble consists of four French horns, two trumpets, two trombones, and one tuba.

I had to improvise to resolve some passages where the registers were very high, but it is not a literal copy, rather a version with certain liberties taken.

I have respected the original key (A major, which is not bad for brass). But another might have been better, such as B flat major (but some notes were too high for me).

Everything is untransposed and in separate systems (I am working on condensing it with the programme, but it's a bit of a nightmare...).

Hello @Luis Hernández!

Having just listened to your orchestration in comparison to the original piano work, I must say that the brass orchestration perfectly matches the character of the “Hunting Song.” The piano version is also beautiful, but it doesn't convey the image of a forest where hunters play before or after the hunt as strongly—perhaps this was also because the recording I heard was at a much faster tempo, which would have been uncomfortable for horns, trumpets, and trombones.

In the semiquaver runs, the french horns sound somewhat to „soft“ what might not be the case in a live recording (while the trumpets retain their typical brass timbre), but despite such nitpicks concerning the realism of the software reproduction, the entire piece sounds well balanced and there is nothing „rattling“ (that’s what I call it whenever there is something that had to be improved according to the listening impression).

A beautiful, authentic orchestration of a classical piece that captivates with its very own character!

Hello Luis

Very Impressed by your Presentation, i presume this is a "Cover"  of Mendelssohn.

Which means if you can re-create such a Complex piece, then creating your own "Original Composition" will be No Problem at all.

Regarding the Production quality, im amazed how Crystal-Clear the treble Range is, i hope to match that pristine sound hopefully one day.

In the Meantime i shall be looking out for an Original-Composition from you soon, as i know you can do it, and do it really well.

On 3/4/2026 at 11:22 PM, Wieland Handke said:

Hello @Luis Hernández!

Having just listened to your orchestration in comparison to the original piano work, I must say that the brass orchestration perfectly matches the character of the “Hunting Song.” The piano version is also beautiful, but it doesn't convey the image of a forest where hunters play before or after the hunt as strongly—perhaps this was also because the recording I heard was at a much faster tempo, which would have been uncomfortable for horns, trumpets, and trombones.

In the semiquaver runs, the french horns sound somewhat to „soft“ what might not be the case in a live recording (while the trumpets retain their typical brass timbre), but despite such nitpicks concerning the realism of the software reproduction, the entire piece sounds well balanced and there is nothing „rattling“ (that’s what I call it whenever there is something that had to be improved according to the listening impression).

A beautiful, authentic orchestration of a classical piece that captivates with its very own character!

 

Thank you for listening and for your comments.
Yes, the piano version is considerably faster.
But when transferring it to an orchestra, or an ensemble like this one, if you don't reduce the tempo, it's difficult to appreciate what's happening.
That's why, rather than a literal copy for orchestra, it's a reinterpretation.
However, in some parts I had (and still have) doubts. More than because of the ranges and tessitura, but because of what each instrument can do, especially in the runs or fast passages.

Best regards.

On 3/5/2026 at 10:42 AM, interlect said:

Hello Luis

Very Impressed by your Presentation, i presume this is a "Cover"  of Mendelssohn.

Which means if you can re-create such a Complex piece, then creating your own "Original Composition" will be No Problem at all.

Regarding the Production quality, im amazed how Crystal-Clear the treble Range is, i hope to match that pristine sound hopefully one day.

In the Meantime i shall be looking out for an Original-Composition from you soon, as i know you can do it, and do it really well.

 

Thank you for listening and commenting.
Yes, the high range always gives you pause with these instruments.
In fact, in the original piece for piano, there are moments when the tessitura shoots much higher, but I had to think of other ways to express those exaltations.

I don't get too complicated with the sound bank because, although I know my way around a DAW, my priority is not to make the sound perfect and realistic, but to write the music and make it sound decent. In other words, what I like is composing.

So, what I use is the Dorico editing programme, where I write directly, and I leave the sounds to Noteperformer. Of course, I have taken care to equalise each and every instrument, apply a compressor to the final sound and make some panning and stereo adjustments (all of which can be done in Dorico itself).

My own compositions... There will be loads of them on this forum. Some bad, some better. Given that I am an amateur and never stop learning.

The thing is, right now I'm focused on learning to orchestrate better, rather than writing my own stuff.