Orchestration......

[poltr1]

Since I came from a band background, I tend to think of my songs having actual musical instruments play them. The problem is, there aren't many filkers out there who play these instruments. If I have a piece with a trombone part, I'd need someone like Rand or Adam to play the part if I'm doing this live. Or if I have a clarinet part, I can either play it badly, or have someone else play it. Similarly, I may write a part that goes beyond the typical range of an instrument, or the limitations of the performer, and not know the range and/or limitations at the time I write it.

The alternative is to provide a digital simulation of the part, via a synth workstation.

But wouldn't this replace musicians? Only in the composition and solo playback stages. Believe me, if I'm doing something live, I'd love to have another musician -- or musicians -- playing along with me. That's why I'll put an instrument on a separate MIDI track when I'm composing, so I can drop it out later if/when necessary.

Coming soon: My favorite orchestral rock pieces and bands.

Comments

[peteralway.livejournal.com]

Have you uploaded midi or mp3 files of any of these things you've composed? It might be fun to give a listen.

[poltr1]

I've been leery of doing this, mostly because I'm afraid of people stealing my music. If I could put in some type of indelible watermark, I think I'd be a lot more comfortable doing this.

[figmo.livejournal.com]

I feel your pain with this. I use Finale to write my arrangements. I can create separate MIDI tracks for all occasions that do and don't contain needed parts. For example, when I do the "Hawaiian Windbreaker Song" in public I need a MIDI track with a guitar part on it because I play ukulele and can't play both at once. When I recorded it for my CD I of course cut out the guitar track and played it live.

It's much easier to carry an "orchestra" on a laptop computer than it is to get together live musicians at a con. Laptop computers also have the advantage of never going off key unless you tell them to.

[poltr1]

Also, laptop computers don't go on strike, demand more money, or grouse about the lousy food that Craft Services brought in. :)

But they occasionally develop stage fright. Like the time tardis (my laptop) froze up before my one-shot of "Carpe Diem" four years ago at FKO.