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)
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/Revoicing
 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 1st, March 3rd
 Instrumentation - 2 Flute, 2 Oboe, 2 B
flat Clarinet, 1Bass Clarinet, 1
Bassoon, 1 alto sax, 1 tenor sax, 1
bari sax - Recruit PLAYERS!
 Be inventive!! Intros, Endings,
Harmony, Style?
 Lab Day Thursday
 Woodwind Quiz - Feb 22nd
 No Class on the 24th