Transcript Writing For Woodwinds

Writing For
Woodwinds
Things to Think About…
Woodwinds
 Think about the numbers you are writing for what is the general make-up of a school
band?
 ALWAYS- think about the sound you would
like to produce - All voices equal? Choir vs.
Choir, lead voice over back ups? Think about
dynamic contour and instrument color….
Woodwinds
Execution…
Can they play effectively at your tempo?
Can they play effectively at your dynamic?
Can they play the full line as marked? How
does AIR factor in?
 Can they execute the articulations (think
about instrument characteristics)
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Voicing
 Alto Clarinet? Double either 3rd clarinet or
Bass Depending on Voice strength
 Clarinet Parts are usually split 3 ways
 Saxophones are Flexible - either used as a
Choir, as a sonority strengthener, as rhythmic
background, Soloists, inner harmony
Voicing
 Melody may be doubled in octaves
 Avoid doubling the bass line above its
original Pitch
 Exception - more than an octave
between the bass line and the next
highest voice…
Voicing
 Think about using the double reed quartet: 2
oboes, 2 bassoons
 May be used as a quartet in light passages Its all about the color you want.
 Lighter passages - Flute can carry the
melody in the upper register
 Think if your tutti passages are balanced, top
heavy, or bottom heavy
Voicing
 Put largest Vertical intervals the lower the octave Think Harmonic Series and Clarity
 Close vertical space in the lower octave creates a
muddy sound
 Space voices evenly in the upper register and avoid
large gaps.
 Exception - octave between two top melodic voices
 Chords should be voiced as completely as possible
in each section
Voice Leading/Re-voicing
 Sometimes voice parts need to be shifted
around due to range considerations. Ex. - a
tenor/bass combination
 Avoid awkward skips ( see ex no. 2 page 40)
 Watch for Excessive Doubling of 3rds
 Think about how you want to split voices or
condense. 5 parts for 4 players? 7 parts for
12 players?
Now Let’s Look at Some
Scores…
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Irish Tune
Dvorak Serenade
Strauss - Suite in B flat
Beethoven - Octet
Jacob - Old Wine In New Bottles
Woodwind Project
 Recording - March 11th
 Instrumentation - 2 Flute, 2 Oboe, 2 B flat
Clarinet, 1Bass Clarinet, 1 Bassoon, 1 alto
sax, 1 tenor sax, 1 bari sax - Recruit
PLAYERS! Sign up on my door.
 Stay close to 2 mins if possible. This project
can be closer to Transcription.
 Lab Day Next Week
 Woodwind Quiz - Next Week