So lately I've been really struggling with a challenge set for me by my teacher to write a piece for chamber ensemble of:
Fl & or picc, cl & or bcl, tpt, hrn, tbn, sop sax, alto sax, ten sax, bar sax, pno, 1 perc, 2 vln,vla, vcl, bass
I have had a really hard time getting inspired to write this piece. I've been so excited by the Infinity for Dinner stuff and have felt I don't really have anything to say for an ensemble like this. I have about zero experience writing music for large ensemble without voices in the first instance. I have always started with something smaller and orchestrated it. Toby gave me some great advice to make a banger, something I love not something to be impressive.
So I decided to start with piano and orchestrate second. I've put in a few orchestratey suggestions to myself but to be honest the emotions I feel towards this piece are embarrassment, stubbornness and a lack of passion. (Maybe armour for the underlying emotion of insecurity/fear of writing orchestral stuff?)
Anyway, here are today's sketches:
I think this is a great way to get going on a big ensemble like that! I am right there with you re: large-ensemble-instrumental-music-feelings. The way I feel about writing that kind of thing is the same way I feel about having teeth pulled. I think you'll make some amazing sounds with this instrumentation!!
ReplyDeleteThis is a beautiful start. We work the same way! - short score always helps me focus on the music. I find that eventually the music starts to suggest timbres and the orchestration comes next. Some gestures/themes/etc. appear in the mind's ear more or less fully formed after some short-score work! Berg would work though large ensemble pieces first at a piano score, then a half-way point, then full score.
ReplyDeleteLemme chime in and say that I also write ensemble pieces this way... also that I think this is a great starting point! You've given yourself lots of instructions to simply follow through on, but I'm sure you'll grow and develop it as the piece goes along! Looking forward to seeing what happens!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much everyone - you guys are the best
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