HSC - Need advice (any one can have input)

I think I could benefit in your advice as some pieces you guys submit on here are great.

In short: I have 3 pieces to be submitted by around June

Im planning on doing it all orchestral, not sure what styles.

2 of the pieces can be like 2 movements, they are my core pieces but all of them must be 2 - 3 minutes.

Im following this marking guidline:

- demonstrates Understanding of styles, musical concepts

- demonstrates skills in organising musical structures

So it is important for me to plan what I will compose.

I'de like to do something like a waltz, but how can I expand on this. (what are concepts of waltz, what other ideas i can integrate)

If you can not answer this then lets say:

You have been given this assesment, what style piece would you like to compose and what ideas would you have in them

I know its a complicated process but I want to plan out the whole thing right now.

- Thanks :P

I'd probably do a prelude and fugue for keyboard instrument or guitar and then maybe an allegro movement in a concerto type setting, ideally, I'd compose a three movement piece (but I'm not sure if it would be allowed with the information you've given) like a prelude fugue and allegro for keyboard instrument or guitar or a whole concerto.

Anyway, i don't see how this'll really help you but if you have gleaned anything worthwhile out of my comment excellent, if not, i hope someone else can be of more help.

one thing, if you want really relavent comments it would help to know a little bit about your normal compositional style.

Mark

heh well Ive never done a composition for a whole orchestra before, only quartets and piano pieces. What I would really like is information relavant to composing for an orchestra such as techniques

any souces would be helpful - but thanks for your reply Mark

this site http://www.philharmonia.co.uk/thesoundexchange has a lot of information about the range and special techniques of each orchestral instrument.

If you've composed Piano pieces and quartets you probably have a fairly good idea of harmony but you'll probably need some information on orchestration, i recommend Principles of Orchestration On-line - Northern Sound Source

Hope this has been of some help, Mark

I don't want to rain on your parade but you are unlikely to learn orchestration comprehensively by June (in the sense that you'll be in control - like knowing how to get the effect you want etc) - unless you're a genius (which you might well be. If so, disregard the rest of this!). If you write with an electronic medium it can be forced into balance but won't sound much like an orchestra.

I suggest going for a small orchestra: 2-2-2-2 2 horns, percussion and strings. To write effective tuttis including full brass you need to be aware of how best to double the brass with everything else, because it will dominate massively at mf and above. With a smaller outfit, things are easier. If you can write well for string quartet you shouldn't find scoring for strings too hard (though they are different, of course).

Good luck, anyway

M

That second link Mark posted is extremely helpful, I needed a better idea of what sort of rolls the instruments have in the orchestra in terms of harmony and melody. I've studied orchestral scores at school so I don't think I'll have too much a problem. I also bought EastWest symphonic which so far is giving a pretty full sounding orchestra.

Thanks for your help guys

glad i could be of assistance, you gonna be posting this piece(s) some time? I'd like to have a listen