Comments on: Can there be Yakety without Sax? http://ostimusic.com/blog/can-there-be-yakety-without-sax/ John Mackey, composer Mon, 21 May 2012 01:01:16 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Jeremy Beck http://ostimusic.com/blog/can-there-be-yakety-without-sax/comment-page-1/#comment-2246 Jeremy Beck Fri, 11 Sep 2009 18:51:48 +0000 http://ostimusic.com/blog/?p=594#comment-2246 I think the thing to consider when you're thinking about how many horns you need is how many trumpets you're using: if you're using more than the standard 2-3 orchestral trumpets, then by all means you need more than 4 horns for balance. But if you've got 3 trumpets, then 4 horns works just fine. (If you REALLY want a 5th horn, though, most orchestras have a 5th horn player contracted to play "assistant principal," and take all the 1st parts that aren't solos so the Real Principal can rest as much as possible and save her chops.) What are you thinking of doing with the orchestral trombone section? I'd LOVE to do antiphonal effects between the solo trombone and the section trombones, but I'm a freak like that :) I think the thing to consider when you’re thinking about how many horns you need is how many trumpets you’re using: if you’re using more than the standard 2-3 orchestral trumpets, then by all means you need more than 4 horns for balance. But if you’ve got 3 trumpets, then 4 horns works just fine.

(If you REALLY want a 5th horn, though, most orchestras have a 5th horn player contracted to play “assistant principal,” and take all the 1st parts that aren’t solos so the Real Principal can rest as much as possible and save her chops.)

What are you thinking of doing with the orchestral trombone section? I’d LOVE to do antiphonal effects between the solo trombone and the section trombones, but I’m a freak like that :)

]]> By: Daniel Wolf http://ostimusic.com/blog/can-there-be-yakety-without-sax/comment-page-1/#comment-2245 Daniel Wolf Fri, 11 Sep 2009 17:58:27 +0000 http://ostimusic.com/blog/?p=594#comment-2245 Absolutely keep the scoring you think the concerto requires, but, given the fact that most college ensembles are enrolled courses, why not take advantage of the otherwise idle saxes and euphonium, and write a companion chamber work that they can rehearse while the rest of the band is doing the concerto? Absolutely keep the scoring you think the concerto requires, but, given the fact that most college ensembles are enrolled courses, why not take advantage of the otherwise idle saxes and euphonium, and write a companion chamber work that they can rehearse while the rest of the band is doing the concerto?

]]> By: JM http://ostimusic.com/blog/can-there-be-yakety-without-sax/comment-page-1/#comment-2244 JM Fri, 11 Sep 2009 17:41:48 +0000 http://ostimusic.com/blog/?p=594#comment-2244 As a sax player, it is awesome to get to play new works. I wish that scoring saxophone in orchestra will be standard some day (maybe in 200 years). Because you sacrifice the sax section to get a few extra orchestral performances, you get exposure outside of college wind band programs who already play his music on a consistent basis. One of the ideas behind the instrumentation is to increase exposure. If he has already heard of programming interest from a major orchestra director, that is awesome and probably what's best. Other major orchestras and smaller orchestras will take notice of the programming, the association with Joe Alessi, and will want to copy and/or commission. As a sax player, it is awesome to get to play new works. I wish that scoring saxophone in orchestra will be standard some day (maybe in 200 years). Because you sacrifice the sax section to get a few extra orchestral performances, you get exposure outside of college wind band programs who already play his music on a consistent basis. One of the ideas behind the instrumentation is to increase exposure. If he has already heard of programming interest from a major orchestra director, that is awesome and probably what’s best. Other major orchestras and smaller orchestras will take notice of the programming, the association with Joe Alessi, and will want to copy and/or commission.

]]> By: Esmail http://ostimusic.com/blog/can-there-be-yakety-without-sax/comment-page-1/#comment-2243 Esmail Fri, 11 Sep 2009 07:33:14 +0000 http://ostimusic.com/blog/?p=594#comment-2243 That may have been a rhetorical question, but 4 horns is likely enough, at least it is in the Mahler and Strauss, and even the Dvorak serenade, which is a great wind piece as well for 13 instruments I believe... too lazy to pull out my score at the moment. I realy do think economy works best when orchestrated well, and of course when good players are present. Writing a lighter, transparent texture and then adding more where you feel the need I completely agree with: more isnt always better... only when it serves a specific musical purpose. That may have been a rhetorical question, but 4 horns is likely enough, at least it is in the Mahler and Strauss, and even the Dvorak serenade, which is a great wind piece as well for 13 instruments I believe… too lazy to pull out my score at the moment. I realy do think economy works best when orchestrated well, and of course when good players are present. Writing a lighter, transparent texture and then adding more where you feel the need I completely agree with: more isnt always better… only when it serves a specific musical purpose.

]]> By: John http://ostimusic.com/blog/can-there-be-yakety-without-sax/comment-page-1/#comment-2242 John Thu, 10 Sep 2009 19:36:58 +0000 http://ostimusic.com/blog/?p=594#comment-2242 EK - Thanks a lot for telling me about that Mahler piece. I didn't know it at all, and it's BEAUTIFUL. The scoring is perfect (not surprisingly), and it was especially helpful that it's literally a song, so there was a solo male voice with that accompaniment -- not unlike how I'm imagining the trombone part. And you've brought up a point that I hadn't really been considering, that that's that larger doesn't necessarily mean better. I can get a lot more clarity the smaller the ensemble, so maybe I should start by scoring a little lighter and then see what I absolutely need to add. Would I ever need 6 horns, or would 4 do? Cole - Yes, the piece will be performed by college bands 95%+ of the time, but if I ended up with even a single professional performance, that would be something worth pursuing. And if I can get this instrumentation worked out, I think it'll have a unique sound. And it's not like I've been ignoring the sax section leading up to this. ;) EK -
Thanks a lot for telling me about that Mahler piece. I didn’t know it at all, and it’s BEAUTIFUL. The scoring is perfect (not surprisingly), and it was especially helpful that it’s literally a song, so there was a solo male voice with that accompaniment — not unlike how I’m imagining the trombone part.
And you’ve brought up a point that I hadn’t really been considering, that that’s that larger doesn’t necessarily mean better. I can get a lot more clarity the smaller the ensemble, so maybe I should start by scoring a little lighter and then see what I absolutely need to add. Would I ever need 6 horns, or would 4 do?

Cole -
Yes, the piece will be performed by college bands 95%+ of the time, but if I ended up with even a single professional performance, that would be something worth pursuing. And if I can get this instrumentation worked out, I think it’ll have a unique sound. And it’s not like I’ve been ignoring the sax section leading up to this. ;)

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