In Shostakovitch 5 (3rd movement) the violins are divided into 3 for the entire movement. In the edition we used, Mvt 3 was on its own page, and there were 3 different pages; one for each part. So the conductor and the concert master between them decided on the division (it IS their job, not the composer's) and distributed the correct page to the correct stand.
I have divided successfully into 3 even parts for shorter passage by dividing BOTH the firsts and the seconds EACH into 3, with 3 different staves on each part where necessary. as you mentioned. I don't like to have more than two notes on a staff ever, and would split into different staves at the slightest hint of technical difficulty or fast passages. The exact stand (and chair!) division is then left to the concert master/conductor. The only drawback with this method is how little music fits onto a double page. I see no problem with making a note in the score if you want uneven division. I haven't found it makes that much difference, except for small string sections. Christopher On Mon Jan 13, at MondayJan 13 4:46 PM, Paul Hayden wrote: > I need to divide all the violins in an orchestral piece into three equal > sections for selected passages. (The bulk of the piece uses regular Violin I > and II sections.) I'm thinking of following the advice of Martin Wulfhorst in > his "The Orchestral Violinist's Companion": > > "...the parts should be assigned so that the musicians playing the same part > are sitting closely together: > > Group I comprises the outside stands of the first violins. > Group II comprises the first two stands of the second violins and the > remaining stands of the firsts. > Group III comprises the remaining stands of the seconds, with one of the > principals positioned strategically." > > If done this way, Violin I and Violin II parts would each have to show all > three groups in those passages where all of the violinists are divided into > three equal groups. > > If I required a specific number of players/stands, I could just specify who > plays what (in Violin I and II) when divided into three groups. But I want to > be more flexible regarding the size of the entire violin section (i.e., I > don't want to specify a minimum size). > > Other suggestions? > > Thanks. > > Paul Hayden > > > > Magnolia Music Press > <www.paulhayden.com> > Voice & Pre-arranged fax: 225-769-9604 > > _______________________________________________ > Finale mailing list > [email protected] > http://lists.shsu.edu/mailman/listinfo/finale > _______________________________________________ Finale mailing list [email protected] http://lists.shsu.edu/mailman/listinfo/finale
