Overview

The aim of this module is to provide the fundamental orchestration techniques required to be a successful orchestrator or composer today. It will involve a thorough study of orchestration by composers from the Classical period to the present day, focusing in turn on all the instrumental sections and their use within the orchestra. The module will be assessed with a number of orchestration exercises of varying difficulty that addresses the different technical and creative issues.

Wk. Content: 1. Introduction 2. Basic techniques and principles in writing for strings 3. Introduction to woodwind instruments 4. Introduction to brass instruments 5. Identifying melodic lines & Orchestrating piano scores 6. -- 7. Introduction to Percussion I 8. Vaughan Williams - Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis 9. Auxiliary woodwind & Low Brass 10. Scoring a crescendo & Antiphonal effects 11. Introduction to Percussion II 12. Contemporary trends & Creating Score and Parts

Assessment Strategy

Threshold (D) Work which shows an elementary understanding of scoring for orchestra, making use of correct and appropriate string bowings, correct divisions of string instruments and splittings of woodwind and brass, and a practical knowledge of transposing the appropriate woodwind and brass instruments.

Good (C) Work which shows a good knowledge of scoring for orchestra, making use of the appropriate bowings, correct divisions of string instruments and splittings of woodwind and brass, using appropriate ranges, and transpositions where needed.

Good (B) Work which shows a more detailed knowledge of scoring for orchestra, not only making use of the appropriate bowings, correct divisions of string instruments and splittings of woodwind and brass, but shows some imagination and artistic creativity in the use of the instruments.

Excellent (A) Work which shows detailed knowledge of scoring for orchestra, making full use of technical terms and symbols, and shows originality in the use of blendings of instrumental timbre.

Learning Outcomes

• Apply the conventions of orchestral writing to scoring keyboard arrangements

• Demonstrate sufficient level of creativity, resourcefulness and imagination in orchestrating, appropriate to the ensemble.

• Identify the function of instruments (in their sections and within the orchestra) and apply this within the orchestration.