Orchestration

Online Resources

• The Orchestra: a Users's manual. Basics of instrumentation and orchestration with the Philharmonia orchestra players.

• Alan Belkin's Orchestration with synthesised audio illustration. His video tutorial exemplifies his approach.

• Orchestration online is a growing set of video tutorials. An analysis of Ravel's orchestration is insightful.

• Translation of Rimsky Korsakov's Principles of Orchestration, (with synthesised examples).

• Petrucci Music Library - public domain scores.

Strings - from one to many.

• Biber - Passacaglia in G minor for Solo Violin.

• Bach - Violin and continuo sonata. Arranged by Respighi. Score for both on imslp.

• Kodály - Sonata for Solo Cello.

• Ravel - Sonata for Violin and Cello.

• Gubaidulina - Rejoice! (1 & 2).

• Haydn - String Quartet Op. 76, No. 2 'Quinten'

• Tchaikovsky - String Quartet No. 3 (score).

• Schoenberg - Verklarte Nacht.

• Strauss - Metamorphosen.

• Mahler - Adagietto from his 5th symphony.

• Grieg - Holberg Suite.

• Vaughan Williams - Fantasia on a theme of Thomas Tallis (recorded in Gloucester Cathedral were the piece was premiered).

• Schnittke - Concerto Grosso No. 1.

• Béla Bartók - Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta

Winds, Brass, Percussion

• Janáček - Mládí (Youth).

• Ligeti - Woodwind quintet Bagatelles and the 3rd Bagatelles Allegro grazioso animated by smalin.

• Ligeti - Ten pieces for woodwind quintet.

• Poulenc - Sextet for Piano and Winds

• Dvorak- Serenade for Winds, Cello and Double-bass

• Varèse - Octandre (opening).

• Stravinsky - Symphonies of Wind Instruments.

• Stravinsky - Ebony concerto.

• This famous excerpt from Mahler's 2nd symphony.

• Copland - Fanfare for the Common Man.

• Varèse - Ionisation for 13 percussionists.

• Grisey - Le Noir de Etoile

• Birtwistle - Verses for Ensemble.

Orchestra

• Sibelius - En Saga (score). A recording of the original version with The Lahti Symphony Orchestra & Osmo Vänskä.

• Rimsky-Korsakov - Russian Easter Festival Overture (score).

• Debussy - Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune (animated by smalin)

• Ravel - Rhapsody Espagnol

• Janáček - Sinfonietta.

• Prokofiev - Symphony No. 5.

• Britten - Four Sea Interludes from Peter Grimes. The NY Phil archives have the score with Leonard Bernstein's conductor annotations.

• Britten - The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra.

• Penderecki - De Natura Sonoris

• Lutosławski - Livre pour orchestre.

• Adams - Common Tones in Simple Time

Mixed Ensembles

• Grisey - Talea.

• Takemitsu - Rain Spell.

• Prokofiev - Overture on a Hebrew Theme (Prokoviev on the piano!). Score at imslp.

• Poulenc - Suite Française (ensemble version)

• Stravinsky - Solider's Tale

Arrangements

• Compare Ravel's orchestration of his Alborada del gracioso to the piano version.

• Compare Strauss Emperor Waltz with Schoenberg's arrangement for chamber ensemble.

• Bach/Respighi - Passacaglia and Fugue BWV 582

• Debussy - Pagodas from Estampes. Arranged by Grainger.

• Grieg - Troldtog from Lyric Pieces Book V: piano; orchestra. Scores on imslp.

Analysis & Misc

• Condensed score and analysis of a Herrmann scene. And a discussion of his music for the film in general.

• Another condensed score - Williams 'Star Wars'

• Condensed score of excerpt from Shostakovich Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk

• The conductor's job.

  • Violin bowing techniques explained