I’m in the process of editing my three most recent orchestral pieces. I just finished editing the score of the first of these. It can be downloaded (free) HERE. The audio may be streamed (free) HERE (or use the player below). I strongly recommend listening on headphones or good speakers, not just tiny laptop speakers.
In retrospect–I didn’t do this intentionally, things just came out this way–I’ve noticed that the “orchestra,” for which I naturally tend to write, has the following characteristics:
- Normal string section;
- Far fewer woodwinds and brass which are used almost exclusively only in solo/soli writing;
- Expanded percussion/keyboard sections;
- Always harp but also sometimes other plucked instruments;
- Except for string section which seems to always be present in every movement, not all movements have same instrumentation, and some instruments might only be used in one or two movements.
For example, the instrumentation of this orchestral suite is as follows:
Flute
Oboe
English Horn
Horn
C Trumpet
Percussion 1
- Tubular bells
- Sistrum or tambourine (or any metal or bright sounding shaken instrument such as “egg” shaker)
- Claves
- Anvil or brake drum
Percussion 2
- Hand bells
- 6 large drums of varying sizes (in a pinch, roto-toms would do); notes immediately repeated should be of slightly different tonal inflection; the lowest 2 (or 3) drums may be of wood–at any rate, the lowest drums should be significantly lower than the upper 3
Percussion 3
- Orchestra bells
- Dumbek or a similar, single drum that can create a variety of pitches and timbers.
Harp
Violins I
Violins II
Violas
Cellos
Basses
Hilton Kean Jones 