Ravel Menuet (extended version)

Hi to all,

This week I decided to revise and extend my orchestration of Ravel's piano menuet in C# minor.

The original is very short, and I thought a longer orchestration would work better.

Haven't put the slurs in yet, as it's still a work in progress.

Hope you enjoy!

(P.S. If anyone knows an orchestra who might like to perform this, do let me know! I have several other companion works that would go nicely with it.)

Menuet in C sharp minor (Ravel orchestration) #18 (score) #5.pdf

Edited yesterday at 06:53 PM1 day by Alex Weidmann

It seems very well orchestrated. Not over orchestrated and much clearity. Nice work. May I ask. How long have you been orchestrating for?
I am also practicing orchestration but recently took it more serious.

My only critique would perhaps be to use more extended techniques maybe? Like harmonics, Divisi, Mutes, Double stops and triple stops etc, play more around with textures maybe. But it's not really necessary. it's really good as is.

Edited yesterday at 05:42 PM1 day by Bjarke

13 minutes ago, Bjarke said:

It seems very well orchestrated. Not over orchestrated and much clearity. Nice work. May I ask. How long have you been orchestrating for?

About 3 years or so, on and off.

Started with my own works; but in the last few months I began orchestrating lesser known pieces by famous composers.

On 4/16/2026 at 6:37 PM, Bjarke said:

My only critique would perhaps be to use more extended techniques maybe? Like harmonics, Divisi, Mutes, Double stops and triple stops etc, play more around with textures maybe. But it's not really necessary. it's really good as is.

I have used all these extended techniques in other works; but I'm not sure they'd be appropriate here?

Is there anywhere in particular I might use them?

I did consider using harp glissandi.

Think they would work in this piece; but I'm not sure they'd be an improvement? More likely they would make the music worse rather than better.

Edited 2 hours ago2 hr by Alex Weidmann