At 6:15 AM -0400 9/27/02, Eden - Lawrence D. wrote: >Greetings to All, > >I am going to try my hand at a Wind Ensemble arrangement/transcription for >the first time. I have been writing for quintet for many years... > >The score calls for a string section, and I need a few ideas as to how >some of you handled this in your own works. > > The woodwinds are pretty busy througout, but what about using saxes to >cover strings?
There is no set way to do it, but remember that strings take up an awful lot of aural space in an orchestra, and your arrangement has to sound good on its own terms, regardless of how the original was orchestrated. Woodwinds in an orchestra are a small group, and I can't see what was played by two clarinets in an orchestra being played with the same effect by a ten-person clarinet section in a wind ensemble. Also the flutes and clarinets are well forward in a wind ensemble, with a major role, while they are usually merely colour in an orchestra. You have to move assignments around a bit (or a lot!) Often, the role of high strings is replaced by flutes, clarinets and oboes. Middle register violins + violas are often replaced by the clarinet section, or possibly saxophones. Low strings (cello) are often substituted by euphonium, saxes, bass clarinet, or whatever covers the part in a good register with similar amount of body and resonance. I learned a lot by studying the scores of the orchestra version versus the band version of "Mars" and "Jupiter" from The Planets, both of which were orchestrated by the composer, Holst. No strict substitutes at all, every situation called for its own solution. And BOTH versions are superb, up to the highest artistic standards for both groups. Good luck. Christopher _______________________________________________ Finale mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://mail.shsu.edu/mailman/listinfo/finale
